Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-amino-propan-1-ol based poly(ether imine) dendrimers

A general synthetic strategy for the rapid construction of poly(ether imine) dendrons and dendrimers with a nitrogen core, originating from 3-amino-propan-1-ol, is described. A new trifunctional monomer, namely, 3-bis-(3-hydroxypropyl)amino]propan-1-ol, was used in a divergent synthesis of dendrimers up to the third generation. This method permitted installation of, either alcohol, amine, nitrile, ester or carboxylic acid groups at the peripheries the dendrimers. Cytotoxicity studies on water-soluble carboxylic acid terminated dendrimers were conducted and these studies revealed that poly(ether imine) dendrimers were non-toxic. These results illustrate that poly(ether imine) dendrimers are useful for biological studies.