Polypropylenimine dendrimers: Improved synthesis and characterization

Both the Michael addition and the hydrogenation steps in the large scale synthesis of polypropylenimine dendrimers have been improved: by adding ammonia during the hydrogenations the substrate concentrations can be increased 8 times, the catalyst concentration can be lowered 10 times and the average selectivity remains > 99.5% per conversion. The dimensions of the dendrimers have been studied with SANS and with molecular calculations.     

Hybrid gold-nanoparticle-cored conjugated thiophene dendrimers: synthesis, characterization, and energy-transfer studies

A series of hybrid Au-nanoparticle-dendrimer materials: nanoparticle-cored thiophene dendrimers (NCTDs) were synthesized, characterized, and investigated for their energy-transfer properties. These hybrid nanoparticles were obtained by the simultaneous and in situ reduction of gold(III) chloride and self-assembly of the thiol-containing thiophene dendritic ligands. The dendron ligands were radially attached to the gold nanoparticles and were analyzed by TEM, UV/Vis, (1)H NMR, and FTIR spectroscopies. The solution fluorescence of the attached thiophene dendrons are quenched progressively. Both alkyl-chain length and dendron size have significant influence on the energy-transfer efficiency, as well as on core sizes and size distribution of the Au nanoparticles. In spite of the phenomenon's dependence on nanoparticle size, the energy transfer generally follows the 1/d(2) distance dependence. Single NCTD nanoparticles were also adsorbed on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and uniform aggregates were observed on mica flat substrates.     

Searching for new host compounds: synthesis and characterization of novel crown ether-functionalized dendrimers

Novel lipophilic dendrimers as host compounds, that is, 7-15, containing crown ether moieties with different sizes as the core, surrounded by first, second or third generation poly(aromatic ether) wedges, were synthesized by the use of bis(bromomethyl)-substituted crown ethers and Fréchet-type poly(benzyl ether) dendrons as building blocks. The compounds were fully characterized.     

Chloromethylsilane functionalised dendrimers: synthesis and reactivity

Tetraallylsilane was functionalised using (chloromethyl)dimethylsilane to give the first generation chloromethyl terminated dendrimer 1. The resulting dendrimer was successfully reacted with K[CpM(CO)₂] (Cp=η⁵-C₅H₅; M=Fe, Ru) to give Si[(CH₂)₃SiMe₂CH₂MCp(CO)₂]₄ functionalised dendrimers in satisfactory yield. Reaction of dendrimer 1 with NaI in acetone gave the -SiMe₂CH₂I functionalised dendrimer, while reactions of 1 with K[CpM(CO)₃] (M=Mo, W, Re), Li[C₅Me₄H], Na[C₅Me₄H], the cobaloxime nucleophile or tert-BuLi were not successful.     

Investigating carbazole jacketed precursor dendrimers: sonochemical synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical crosslinking properties

Precursor carbazole terminated dendrons and dendrimers up to generation four (G4-D) were synthesized using a convergent approach. Sonication as a means of facilitating organic reactions in dendrimer chemistry was explored resulting in very facile and very fast (up to 50x) reaction times compared to those using traditional reflux conditions. The limits of peripheral group functionality were explored as a function of generation. The electrochemical cross-linking of the dendrimers as thin films revealed unusual cyclic voltammetry (CV) behavior depending upon the generations, which were significantly different from their linear counterpart, Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK). G1-D showed a higher extent of intermolecular cross-linking while G4-D showed a higher extent of intramolecular cross-linking. The formed films were optically clear and possess superior energy band gap properties making them an alternative candidate over PVK for future hole-transport layer materials in electro-optical devices.     

Novel phenylazomethine dendrimers: synthesis and structural properties

The novel dendrimers consisting of a pi-conjugated backbone, the dendritic polyphenylazomethines (DPAs), were synthesized by the convergent method via the dehydration of aromatic ketones with aromatic amines in the presence of titanium(IV) tetrachloride. The obtained DPAs have a high solubility unlike the conventional linear polyphenylazomethines. NMR studies revealed the conformational rigidity of DPA G4. DPAs having many azomethine groups as the coordination site for metal ions are expected to be novel ligands.     

Phosphorus dendrimers as viewed by 31P NMR spectroscopy; synthesis and characterization

This review emphasizes the role of phosphorus for the elaboration of dendrimers and of various highly sophisticated dendritic structures, and the invaluable role played by ³¹P NMR for their characterization and to ascertain their purity. A few properties, highlighting the importance of phosphorus are reported at the end of this review.     

Phosphorus dendrimers: from synthesis to applications

Various methods of synthesis of phosphorus dendrimers are presented, in particular a fast method which allows creating each generation in only one step, while multiplying by 5 the number of end-groups. These methods of synthesis can easily be modified to place selectively on the surface, inside, within the branches or at the core, functional groups chosen according to the properties or the applications which they can bring. In many cases, the size of the dendrimer (its generation) has an influence on these properties. Various applications in the fields of catalysis, materials, and biology are presented. To cite this article: Anne-Marie Caminade et al., C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Simplifying the synthesis of dendrimers: accelerated approaches

Dendrimers are highly branched and monodisperse macromolecules that display an exact and large number of functional groups distributed with unprecedented control on the dendritic framework. Based on their globular structure, compared to linear polymers of the same molecular weight, dendrimers are foreseen to deliver extraordinary features for applications in areas such as cancer therapy, biosensors for diagnostics and light harvesting scaffolds. Of the large number of reports on dendrimer synthesis only a few have reached commercial availability. This limitation can be traced back to challenges in the synthetic paths including a large number of reaction steps required to obtain dendritic structures with desired features. Along with an increased number of reaction steps come not only increased waste of chemical and valuable starting materials but also an increased probability to introduce structural defects in the dendritic framework. This tutorial review briefly covers traditional growth approaches to dendrimers and mainly highlights accelerated approaches to dendrimers. A special focus capitalizes on the impact of the click chemistry concept on dendrimer synthesis and the promise it has to successfully accomplish highly sophisticated dendrimers, both traditional as well as heterofunctional, in a minimum number of chemical steps. It is clear that accelerated synthetic approaches are of greatest importance as these will encourage the scientific community to synthesize and access dendrimers for specific applications. The final goal of accelerated synthesis is to deliver economically justified dendritic materials for future applications without compromising the environmental perspective.     

Convergent synthesis of platinum-acetylide dendrimers

An efficient convergent route to the main chain type of organometallic dendrimers, in which platinum moieties are linked by 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene, has been developed. The synthesis of platinum-acetylide dendrons involved the use of two types of trialkylsilyl groups for protection of the terminal acetylene. The platinum-acetylide dendrimers were prepared up to the third generation by reacting dendrons with a triplatinum core and a tetraplatinum core. Spectroscopic characterization and trace experiments by gel permeation chromatography indicated that the dendrimer molecules have no structural defects. Although a pi-conjugated system was used as the bridging ligand, electronic and fluorescence spectra suggested that the interaction among the platinum-acetylide moieties in the dendrimers was small.     

Globular carbosilane dendrimers with mannose groups at the periphery: synthesis, characterization and toxicity in dendritic cells

A synthetic strategy has been developed for the preparation of new globular carbosilane dendrimers with mannose groups at the periphery. It consists of hydrosilylation reaction of allyl tetraacetylmannose with carbosilane dendrimers containing monohydrosilane end groups and the subsequent deacetylation reaction. Evaluation of dendrimer toxicities in dendritic cells by MTT assay were carried out, and evidence a good biocompatibility.     

Design and synthesis of triazole-based peptide dendrimers

A series of novel designer dendrimers (8, 9, 11, 13 and 16) was synthesized by employing click chemistry. The dendritic structures reported here include symmetrical, unsymmetrical and cationic dendrimers with a variety of cores such as triazole, cystine and Lys-Asp dipeptide.     

Self-host yellow iridium dendrimers based on carbazole dendrons: synthesis,characterization and application in solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes

On the basis of different generation carbazole dendrons, a series of self-host yellow Ir dendrimers (Y-G0, Y-G1 and Y-G2) have been successfully synthesized and characterized in detail. It is found that the peripheral dendrons can effectively reduce the intermolecular interactions between emissive Ir cores, as verified by the increased photoluminescence quantum yields and film lifetimes. Among these dendrimers, Y-G2 bearing the second generation dendrons shows the best non-doped device performance, revealing a peak luminous efficiency of 20.2 cd/A. The value is nearly twice that of Y-G0 without any dendrons, which could be further improved to 32.1 cd/A by dispersing Y-G2 into a host matrix. We believe that this work will shed light on the development of highly efficient yellow phosphorescent dendrimers with a self-host strategy.     

Toward nanoamphiphiles: efficient synthesis of desymmetrized polyphenylene dendrimers

A new synthetic approach for the desymmetrization of polyphenylene dendrimers (PPDs) is described. Tetrakis(4-ethynylphenyl)methane undergoes facile Diels-Alder cycloaddition with substoichiometric quantities of tetraphenylcyclopentadienones bearing one polar functional group. A single ethynyl group is thereby converted to a rigid, selectively functionalized polyphenylene moiety, which serves as a focal point for further transformations or interfacial anchoring. This is the key feature for the design of desymmetrized monodisperse macromolecules with a spherical shape. The remaining unreacted ethynyl groups provide a trifold core for the stepwise elaboration of first- and second-generation polyphenylene dendrons, which may, in turn, bear specific numbers of different peripheral functional groups at their terminae. Moreover, the resulting macromolecules exhibit the characteristic shape-persistence and monodispersity of PPDs. This approach is an important achievement in nanosciences, especially for tailoring new nanoamphiphiles. It is also of synthetic importance, as it enables the separation of two regioisomeric polyphenylene dendrimers for the first time.     

Divergent synthesis of segmented carbosilane dendrimers

A number of carbosilane copolymers of the first through third generations has been synthesized via the divergent approach. Each molecule of these compounds contains two pairs of dendrons—segments that have the same poly(propylenesilyl) carbosilane dendritic architecture but differ in the generation number and the amount and type of terminal groups (n-decyl or allyl). The target dendrimers have been isolated as individual compounds via preparative gel-permeation chromatography, and their structure has been studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Supramolecular dendrimers: convenient synthesis by programmed self-assembly and tunable thermoresponsivity

We report here the noncovalent synthesis of thermosensitive dendrimers. Short oligoguanosine strands were linked to the focal point of a dendron by using "click chemistry", and quadruplex formation was used to drive the self-assembly process in the presence of metal ions. The dynamic nature of these noncovalent assemblies can be exploited to create combinatorial libraries of dendrimers as demonstrated by the co-assembly of two components. These supramolecular dendrimers showed thermoresponsive behavior that can be tuned by varying the templating cations or the number of guanines in the oligonucleotide strand.     

A first synthesis of thiophene dendrimers

[structure: see text] Thiophene dendrons and dendrimers were designed and synthesized using a convergent approach. Metal-mediated coupling reactions were used in the synthesis. A rational approach allowed the formation of alphaalpha, betabeta, and alphabeta linkages between the dendrons and thiophene units.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of donor-acceptor phenylazomethine dendrimers

The synthesis of the first donor-acceptor phenylazomethine dendrimers (4 and 5) is described. A convergent method is used via the condensation of aromatic ketones with an appropriately functionalized tri(aminophenyl)-s-triazine promoted by titanium (IV) chloride. Cyclic voltammetry investigations show a donor-acceptor behaviour due to the presence of the electron acceptor s-triazine core and the donor ability of the conjugated peripheral butoxybenzene units.     

Amphiphilic diblock dendrimers: synthesis and incorporation in Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films

A new dendron with peripheral long alkyl chains and containing five C(60) units in the branching shell has been prepared and attached to a Fréchet-type dendron functionalized with ethylene glycol chains. The peripheral substitution of the resulting globular dendrimer with hydrophobic chains on one hemisphere and hydrophilic groups on the other provides the perfect hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance allowing the formation of stable Langmuir films. Furthermore, a perfect reversibility has been observed in successive compression/decompression cycles. The diblock structure of the dendrimer has been also crucial for the efficient transfer of the Langmuir films in order to obtain well-ordered multilayered Langmuir-Blodgett films. This approach appears particularly interesting since functional groups not well adapted for the preparation of Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films such as fullerenes can be attached into the branching shell of the dendritic structure and, thus, efficiently incorporated in thin ordered films.     

Design and synthesis of readily degradable acyloxysilane dendrimers

Two types of dendrimers with AB₂ branching, one with acyloxysilanes at the branching position (V type) and the other at the non-branching position (Y type), were synthesized using hydrosilylation with chlorosilanes followed by heterofunctional condensation with olefin-functional carboxylic acids, and examined as readily degradable template materials. The V type dendrimer was much more susceptible to ligand redistribution with chlorosilanes during preparation, whereas the Y type was less. The acyloxysilane linkages in these dendrimers could be cleaved readily by alcoholysis or hydrolysis on demand, making for suitable templates.