Structure and conformation of DAB dendrimers in solution via multidimensional NMR techniques.

NOESY-HSQC 3D-NMR and NOESY 2D-NMR techniques have been used on a 750 MHz spectrometer to study the chain conformations of different generation DAB dendrimers (poly[propylene imine] dendrimers) in chloroform and benzene solutions. The high-field multidimensional NMR techniques provided the chemical shift dispersion needed to resolve all of the unique resonances in the dendrimers. By studying the NOE interactions among dendritic chain protons, information about through space interactions between protons on different parts of the dendrimer chain is obtained, which is directly related to the conformation of the dendrimer. These experiments also give further proof of the chemical shift assignments obtained from the HMQC-TOCSY 2D and 3D NMR experiments. The concentration effects on chemical shifts have also been observed, revealing information about the interactions between solvent and different parts of dendrimer molecules. These studies clearly show for DAB dendrimers, that folded chain conformations can occur in nonpolar solvents such as benzene and extended chain conformations are predominant in polar solvents such as chloroform.     

Beta-alanine-based dendritic beta-peptides: dendrimers possessing unusually strong binding ability towards protic solvents and their self-assembly into nanoscale aggregates through hydrogen-bond interactions

A series of poly(beta-alanine) dendrimers 1-4 with Boc-carbamate as the surface functionality, beta-alanine as the dendritic branch, 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid as the branching agent, and 1,2diaminoethane as the interior core has been synthesized by a solution-phase peptide-coupling method. The structural identities and purities of the products have been fully characterized by spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. 1H NMR studies on the dendrimers indicated that the Boc-carbamate surface groups exist as a mixture of syn and anti rotamers in solution, and that the dendrimers adopt an open structure in polar solvents; this allows the free interaction of the interior core functionality with solvent molecules. Due to the cooperative effect of a large number of carbamate and amide groups, the dendrimers exhibit an unusually strong binding ability towards protic solvents and behave as H-bond sponges. As a result, the H/D exchange rates of the N-H protons are significantly enhanced in such dendritic structures, as compared to those of nondendritic carbamates and amides. These dendritic peptide dendrimers also exhibit a strong tendency to form nanoscopic aggregates in nonpolar or polar aprotic solvents through intermolecular H-bond interactions.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of tetraphenylethylene-based conjugated dendrimers with triphenylamine core

Two new conjugated dendrimers bearing a tetraphenylethylene moiety as dendrons and triphenylamine as a core have been synthesized through a convergent synthetic strategy using threefold Heck/threefold Sonogashira coupling reaction. These dendrimers showed excellent solubility in common organic solvents and emit light in the blue and violet regions.     

Degradable dual pH- and temperature-responsive photoluminescent dendrimers

Poly(β-aminoester) dendrimers have been prepared. These systems represent the first degradable dual pH- and temperature-responsive dendrimers displaying photoluminescence. The pH/temperature sensitivities are interrelated; the lower critical solution temperature of the dendrimer decreases as the pH of the solution is increased. The sensitivities are mainly due to phase changes of the surface groups with changes in pH or temperature. These dual-responsive dendrimers are very useful in drug delivery. They may be loaded with a hydrophobic drug at low temperature without using organic solvents. The loaded drug is released very slowly and steadily at 37 °C and physiological pH, but can be quickly released at acidic pH, for example the lysosomal pH (pH 4-5), for intracellular drug release. These dendrimers also display strong photoluminescence, which can be exploited for monitoring drug loading and release. Thus, poly(β-aminoester) dendrimers constitute ideal drug carriers since their thermal sensitivity allows the loading of drugs without using organic solvents, their pH sensitivity permits fast intracellular drug release, and their photoluminescence provides a means of monitoring drug loading and release.     

溶剂对聚酰胺-胺树形分子模板法原位制备CdS量子点的影响

为了研究非配位型溶剂对聚酰胺-胺(PAMAM)树形分子的模板法制备CdS量子点的影响, 分别以水、甲醇及二者的混合物( ∶ ＝2∶1)为溶剂, 以4.5代PAMAM树形分子为模板制备了CdS量子点. 结果表明, 相同条件下, 以甲醇为溶剂时制备的CdS量子点为单晶, 平均直径2.7 nm, 尺寸分布窄, 发光强度高; 以水为溶剂制备的CdS量子点为多晶, 平均直径为5.7 nm, 尺寸分布宽, 发光强度低; 在甲醇与水的混合溶剂中制备的CdS量子点为单晶和多晶共存, 平均直径为4.1 nm, 尺寸分布及发光强度都居中. 这主要是由于树形分子的模板作用不同造成的. 树形分子在甲醇中能充分伸展, 起到内模板作用; 树形分子与水之间由双氢键作用而产生交联, 不利于Cd^2＋与树形分子内部基团的配位, 主要起到外模板作用; 在甲醇与水的混合溶剂中, 树形分子则同时起到了内模板和外模板作用.     

Unsymmetric dendrimers containing a single ureidopyrimidine unit: generation-dependent dimerization via hydrogen bonding

A new series of unsymmetric Newkome-type dendrimers have been prepared and characterized. These dendrimers contain a single ureidopyrimidine residue covalently attached to their apical positions. In low polarity solvents, the first and second generation dendrimers form highly stable dimers via hydrogen bonding of their AADD ureidopyrimidine units, whereas the third generation dendrimer dimerizes to a very low extent. [structure: see text]     

Synthesis and properties of new thiourea-functionalized poly(propylene imine) dendrimers and their role as hosts for urea functionalized guests

Five generations of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers have been modified by palmityl and adamantyl endgroups via a thiourea linkage. The synthesis of the thiourea dendrimers DAB-dendr-(NHCSNHAd)(n) and DAB-dendr-(NHCSNHC(16)H(33))(n) (n = 4, 8, 16, 32, 64) proceeds smoothly via the amino-terminated DAB dendrimer and the adamantyl and palmityl isothiocyanates, respectively. The properties of the thiourea dendrimers have been studied by IR and (1)H NMR, including relaxation (T1, T2) measurements. The thiourea dendrimers are used as multivalent hosts for a number of guest molecules containing a terminal urea-glycine unit in organic solvents. The host-guest interactions have been investigated using 1D- and NOESY-NMR. These investigations show that the guest molecules bind to the dendritic host via thiourea (host)-urea (guest) hydrogen bonding, and ionic bonding between the terminal guest carboxylate moiety and the outer shell tertiary amines of the dendrimer. The ability to bind guest molecules of the adamantyl- and palmitylthiourea dendrimers has been compared with their respective urea containing dendrimer analogues, by NMR-titration, and competition experiments. Upon complexation, the thiourea dendrimer hosts show a larger downfield NH shift than the corresponding urea dendrimer hosts, indicative of stronger hydrogen bonding in the complexed state. Furthermore, microcalorimetry has been used to determine binding constants for formation of the host-guest complexes; the binding constants are typically in the order of 10(4) M(-1). Both NMR and microcalorimetric studies show that the thiourea dendrimers bind the urea containing guests with somewhat higher affinity than the corresponding urea dendrimers.     

J-aggregation of cyanine dyes by self-assembly

The importance of highly ordered surfaces, containing adsorptive surface states, is discussed for J-aggregation by self-assembly. Such nucleating surfaces are nanometer-sized edges and corners of cubic AgBr microcrystals, or surface iodide-clusters located along edges and corners of AgBr:I microcrystals. Of particular interest are dendrimers, monoatomic steps on terraced silver halide microcrystals and fullerene derivatives as nucleating surfaces. Molecular organisation into J-aggregates by self-assembly was realized using aprotic, apolar solvents for fullerenes, and polar solvents for dendrimers and monoatomic surface steps. By using dendrimers as nucleating agents in mesopores of metal oxide nanoparticle coatings, size-controlled and stable J-aggregates with high optical densities and strong fluorescence were obtained reproducibly. Such films may be useful for sensors, opto-electronics, lighting and photovoltaics.     

Electron transfer in nonpolar solvents in fullerodendrimers with peripheral ferrocene units

Two new fullerodendrimers, with two and four ferrocene units on their periphery, have been synthesized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between the corresponding azomethine ylides and C(60). These new compounds have been studied by using cyclic voltammetry and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Weak intramolecular interactions between the fullerene cage and the ferrocene groups have been found. The photochemical events of both fullerene-ferrocene dendrimers have been probed by means of steady-state and time-resolved techniques. The steady-state emission intensities of the fulleropyrrolidine-ferrocene dendrimers 1 and 2 were found to be quenched relative to the N-methylfulleropyrrolidine without substituents that was used as a model. The nanosecond transient absorption spectral studies revealed efficient charge separation in both systems, even in toluene. The lifetimes of the (C(60))(*-)-(dendron)(*+) are higher for the second-generation fullerodendrimer (with four ferrocene units) and they are of the order of tens of nanoseconds in toluene and hundreds of nanoseconds in polar solvents.     

One-component gels based on peptidic dendrimers: dendritic effects on materials properties

This paper describes the gelation of symmetric dendrimers based on building blocks constructed from L-lysine. These dendrimers form gel-phase materials in nonpolar organic solvents. The thermal properties and concentration dependence of the gelation were investigated, and it was found that there was a clear dendritic effect on the behavior of the soft materials formed, with higher generation dendrimers giving rise to more thermally stable gels. Variable temperature 1H NMR studies indicated that this behavior was probably a consequence of more extensive interdendrimer hydrogen bonding occurring between the peptidic groups in the higher generation dendrimers. The supramolecular aggregates were found to have a fibrillar structure, with the dimensions and alignment of the fibers being dependent on dendritic generation. Circular dichroism measurements confirmed that these fibers possessed chiral organization of the peptidic groups on the supramolecular (nano) scale, assigned as helicity. This paper indicates that dendritic functionalization provides a useful way of tuning gel-phase materials properties, with clear dendritic effects on gel formation being quantified for the first time, hence illustrating the way dendritic functionalization can play a positive role in the formation of highly functional organic materials with desirable properties.     

含不同核心第一代π-共轭不对称树状化合物的合成

以3,5-二叔丁基苯酚、三氟甲基磺酸酐和4,5-二乙炔基-2-甲氧基苯酚为原料,合成了4,5-双（3′,5′-二叔丁基苯基乙炔基）-2-甲氧基苯酚（单分子枝）,单分子枝的酚羟基用三氟甲基磺酸酐酯化得到磺酸酯,后者再分别与偶氮苯、联苯、蒽和芘发色团偶联,得到含不同核心的第一代π-共轭不对称树状化合物。 目标化合物的组成和结构分别经1H NMR谱、13C NMR谱、IR光谱和元素分析予以表征。 其溶解性测试表明,相对于核（不同的发色团）,所有树状化合物均能溶于常用的有机溶剂,并显示出良好的热稳定性。 这将有利于其掺杂入其它材料和器件中。     

Hydrodynamic, conformational, and electrooptical properties of cylindrical dendrimers with dendron ionic addition in solutions

Cylindrical dendrimers of first, second, and third generations with side dendrons based on L-aspartic acid which are attached to poly(styrenesulfonic acid) chains via ionic bonds are studied by molecular hydrodynamic, optical, and electrooptical measurements. Macromolecules of the said dendrimers demonstrate significant kinetic rigidity in external electric and hydrodynamic fields simultaneously with moderate equilibrium chain rigidity. The comparative analysis of the experimental data on various cylindrical dendrimers with the polyvinyl backbone and L-aspartic acid-based dendrons is performed. It has been shown that, in solvents not disturbing intramolecular hydrogen bonds between side dendrons, the conformational and dynamic properties of various cylindrical dendrimers are similar. The molecular characteristics of cylindrical dendrimers in non-dissociating solvents are insignificantly affected by the mode of dendron attachment to the backbone (covalent or ionic binding).     

Electrochemical and guest binding properties of Frechet- and Newkome-type dendrimers with a single viologen unit located at their apical positions

Several new series of dendrimers containing a single redox-active 4,4'-bipyridinium (viologen) residue were synthesized and characterized. In these dendrimers, the viologen group is covalently attached to the apical position of a Newkome- or Frechet-type dendron, ranging in size from first to third generation of growth. The half-wave potentials corresponding to the two consecutive one-electron reductions of the viologen residue are affected by the size of the dendritic component. The size effects are more pronounced in the Newkome-type dendrimers and seem to result from the polarity contrast between the microenvironments provided by the solution and the internal phase of the dendrimer. Unlike in many other dendrimers having a redox-active core, the voltammetric behavior remains fast (reversible) even in third generation dendrimers. Pulse gradient stimulated echo NMR diffusion coefficient measurements on the Newkome-type dendrimers reveal that their hydrodynamic radii are relatively invariant in solvents of widely different polarities (dichloromethane to dimethyl sulfoxide). The host-guest binding interactions between the viologen residue in these dendrimers and the crown ether host bis-p-phenylene-34-crown-8 were also investigated. While in Newkome-type dendrimers the growth of the dendron caused a substantial attenuation of the binding constant values, this size effect was not observed in the Frechet-type dendrimers. These electrochemical and binding measurements underscore some of the structural differences between these two common types of dendritic architectures.     

Syntheses,characterization, optical properties,and charge‐transfer complexation study of fluorescent poly(aryl‐ether‐urea) dendrimers

An inexpensive and highly efficient synthesis of first example of fluorescent aromatic dendrimers having alternative ether and urea linkages without the need for protection and deprotection steps has been developed. Dendrons and dendrimers up to third generation, with amine end‐groups, were prepared by convergent growth approach in high yield. A repetitive synthetic sequence of nucleophilic addition reaction between amine and regenerated isocyanate and reduction of nitro groups into amine are adopted for the synthesis of these dendrimers. The peripheries of the dendrimers contained 6, 12, and 24 amino groups, for the first, second, and third generation, respectively. Materials were characterized by FTIR, NMR, and MALDI‐TOF MS spectrometry. These dendrimers were soluble in amide solvents, THF and acetone and displayed fluorescence maxima in the 440–500 nm range with relatively narrow peak widths indicating that they had pure and intense fluorescence. These dendrimers form charge‐transfer (CT) complexes with electron acceptor molecules such as 7,7,8,8,‐tetracyano‐quino‐dimethane and 1,1,2,2 tetracyanoethane as evidenced by UV‐visible absorption spectra. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 713–724, 2008     

Poly(amidoamine) dendrimers peripherally modified with 4-ethylamino-1,8-naphthalimide. Synthesis and photophysical properties

New fluorescent poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers, comprising 4-ethylamino-1,8-naphthalmide units on the periphery have been synthesized. Their photophysical properties in organic solvents of different polarity have been determined. The photodegradation of the dendrimers in organic solvents has been investigated. The effect of the coordination of the dendrimer with transition metal cations in N,N-dimethylformamide solution has been discussed.     

Spectrochemical investigations in molecularly organized solvent media: evaluation of pyridinium chloride as a selective fluorescence quenching agent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous carboxylate-terminated poly(amido) amine dendrimers and anionic micelles

The ability of pyridinium chloride (PC) to selectively quench alternant as opposed to nonaltemant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in organized media is examined. PC was previously shown to be a selective quenching agent of alternant PAHs in neat polar solvents. Carboxylate-terminated poly(amido) amine (PAMAM-CT) dendrimers and anionic surfactants--sodium dodecanoate (SD), sodium octanoate (SO), and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)--were chosen as the solubilizing media for this study. Selective quenching of alternant PAHs is observed in the presence of the SDS and SO micelles. However, the extent of PAH quenching in SO is significantly reduced compared to PAHs dissolved in either water or SDS micelles. In the case of the smaller generation 4.5 (G4.5) PAMAM-CT dendrimers, PC was prevented from quenching both alternant and nonalternant PAHs to any appreciable extent. The dendrimer is able to "protect" the PAHs from the PC quencher that resides at the dendrimer surface. Both, SD and G5.5 PAMAM-CT precipitated out of solution with the addition of PC. Differences between traditional micelles and "unimolecular micelle" dendrimers were also examined. These studies further confirm that the PAHs did not reside in the "analogous" palisade region of the dendrimers as they do in micelles. The PAHs must reside in the outermost branches of the dendrimer, but sufficiently far enough away from the charged surface groups, where PC associated, to prevent fluorescence quenching. This work further illustrates the differences between "unimolecular micelle" dendrimers and traditional micelles.     

Solution processable high band gap hosts based on carbazole functionalized cyclic phosphazene cores for application in organic light‐emitting diodes

A new class of solution processable dendrimers based on cyclic phosphazene (CP) cores have been prepared and used as host materials for blue and green organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). The dendrimers are prepared in high yield from minimal step reactions, are soluble in common solvents for solution processing, are amorphous, and have excellent thermal properties necessary for application in OLEDs. OLED efficiencies of 10.3 cd/A (4.2 lm/W) and 35.3 cd/A (33.5 lm/W) were achieved using commercially available FIrpic and Ir(mppy)₃ as blue and green phosphorescent emitters, respectively. These efficiencies were 2× higher than control devices prepared using poly(N‐vinylcarbazole), the most commonly used host material in solution processed phosphorescent OLEDs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Designer peptide dendrimers using click reaction

We designed and synthesized various peptide dendrimers using a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (Click) reaction. The dendritic structures reported here include symmetrical, asymmetrical, and cationic dendrimers with triazole, cystine, aromatic, aliphatic, and Lys-Asp dipeptide cores. The high chemoselectivity of the click reaction allowed us to synthesize good yields of high-purity protected and unprotected dendritic structures. Triazole is an excellent peptide bond mimic, which remains hydrolytically stable. Dendrimer 15a and the core unit 21 gelate in a mixture of organic solvents. We also demonstrated the versatility of the design by synthesizing various carbohydrate-based dendrimers.     

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.     

Polarity effects on the photophysics of dendrimers with an oligophenylenevinylene core and peripheral fullerene units

Highly soluble dendritic branches with fullerene subunits at the periphery and a carboxylic acid function at the focal point have been prepared by a convergent approach. They have been attached to an oligophenylenevinylene (OPV) core bearing two alcohol functions to yield dendrimers with two, four or eight peripheral C60 groups. Their photophysical properties have been systematically investigated in solvents of increasing polarity; that is, toluene, dichloromethane, and benzonitrile. Ultrafast OPV-->C60 singlet energy transfer takes place for the whole series of dendrimers, whatever the solvent. Electron transfer from the fullerene singlet is thermodynamically allowed in CH2Cl2 and benzonitrile, but not in apolar toluene. For a given solvent, the extent of electron transfer, signaled by the quenching of the fullerene fluorescence, is not the same along the series, despite the fact that identical electron transfer partners are present. By increasing the dendrimer size, electron transfer is progressively more difficult due to isolation of the central OPV core by the dendritic branches, which hampers solvent induced stabilization of charge separated couples. Compact structures of the hydrophobic dendrimers are favored in solvents of higher polarity. These structural effects are also able to rationalize the unexpected trends in singlet oxygen sensitization yields.