Dielectric relaxation in carbosilane dendrimers with cyanobiphenyl end groups

Carbosilane dendrimers of generation 1 and 2 are functionalized with mesogenic end groups (cyanobiphenyl) via spacers of 5 and 11 carbons. The dielectric relaxation is measured over broad frequency (1 Hz–1 GHz) and temperature (170–470 K) ranges. Two relaxation regimes are observed and characterized as δ and β relaxation. The δ relaxation is nearly a single Debye process and varies strongly with temperature. The S_E to S_A transition observed for the dendrimers with long spacers causes a jump in the relaxation rate of the δ process. The β process displays an Arrhenius-type temperature dependence with an activation energy of 35 kJ/mol. The relaxation time depends on spacer length. The dielectric relaxation reflects the mutual distortion of the dendrimer scaffold and the smectic layers. Received: 9 June 1999 Accepted in revised form: 21 July 1999     

Rheology of carbosilane dendrimers with various types of end groups

The rheological properties of high-generation carbosilane dendrimers carrying different kinds of terminal groups are studied. It is shown that the nonlinear viscoelastic behavior of dendrimers and the high-temperature relaxation transition in dendrimers are interrelated and result from the reversible breakdown of the supramolecular structure formed by the system of contacts of exterior shells of dendrimers. The strength of the supramolecular structure is dependent on the specific interaction of terminal groups of dendrimers and their mobility. The dendrimers under study demonstrate the dualism of macromolecule-particle properties: They behave as both polymer melts and colloidal systems.     

Synthesis of carbosilane dendrimers with N,N-dimethylaniline as end groups

Carbosilane dendrimers with 4-bromo-N,N-dimethylaniline as end groups were synthesized from methyltrichlorosilane, allyl chloride, magnesium and 4-bromo-N,N-dimethylaniline. All compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, IR, MS.     

Kerr effect in solutions of carbosilane dendrimers with terminal mesogenic groups

First results of investigations of electro-optical properties of liquid crystalline (LC) dendrimers in solution are presented. Measurements of electric birefringence (Kerr effect) and dielectric polarization of first generation carbosilane dendrimers with different ester linked terminal mesogenic groups (cholesteryl, cyanobiphenylyl and 4-methoxyphenyl benzoate) have been carried out using dilute solutions in CCl4. The results show that the dielectric polarization is proportional to the second power of the electric field in accordance with Kerr law. The Kerr constants calculated are close to those of the low molar mass analogues of the corresponding mesogenic groups. Thus the electric birefringence of the LC dendrimer solutions is mainly determined by the electro-optical properties of their terminal mesogenic groups oriented in the electric field independently of the main chain.     

Thermodynamic properties of first- and third-generation carbosilane dendrimers with terminal phenyldioxolane groups

The heat capacities of first- and third-generation carbosilane dendrimers with terminal phenyldioxolane groups are studied as a function of temperature via vacuum and differential scanning calorimetry in the range of 6 to 520 K. Physical transformations that occur in the above temperature range are detected and their standard thermodynamic characteristics are determined and analyzed. Standard thermodynamic functions C_p^ο(T), [H°(T) ? H°(0)], [S°(T) ? S°(0)], and [G°(T) ? H°(0)] in the temperature range of T → 0 to 520 K for different physical states and the standard entropies of formation of the studied dendrimers at T = 298.15 K are calculated, based on the obtained experimental data.     

Synthesis and comparative studies of carbosilane liquid crystalline dendrimers with chiral terminal mesogenic groups

A new series of carbosilane liquid crystalline (LC) dendrimers from the first to the third generations with 8, 16 and 32 chiral terminal mesogenic groups, respectively, has been synthesized. The molecular structures and purity of all new compounds were confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and GPC analysis. Data of polarization microscopy and SAX analysis demonstrated that all LC dendrimers synthesized form a chiral smectic SmC* phase at temperatures below 50 °C. It has been found that bistable electrooptical switching is observed for all dendrimers. The influence of chiral mesogenic fragment length on phase behavior and ferroelectric properties of carbosilane LC dendrimers is discussed.     

Liquid-crystalline carbosilane dendrimers of different molecular architecture with photochromic mesogenic and aliphatic terminal groups

Second-generation (G-2) liquid-crystalline carbosilane block and statistical dendrimers with aliphatic (decyl) and photochromic (azobenzene-containing) mesogenic terminal groups and a G-2 homo-dendrimer containing the same mesogenic terminal groups were synthesized for the first time. The influence of dendritic architecture on the phase behavior of the dendrimers and on photoinduced Z-E-isomerization of the azobenzene fragments in mesogenic terminal groups in dendrimer solutions are discussed. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2325–2331, December, 2007.     

Thermodynamic properties of carbosilane dendrimers of the third and sixth generations with ethyleneoxide terminal groups

The temperature dependences of the heat capacities of carbosilane dendrimers of the third and sixth generations with ethyleneoxide terminal groups are examined for the first time by means of precision adiabatic vacuum calorimetry at temperatures between 6.5 and 350 K. In this temperature range, physical transformations are observed and their standard thermodynamic characteristics are determined and discussed. The standard thermodynamic functions are calculated per nominal mole of a chosen unit using the obtained experimental data: C° _p (T), H°(T) - H°(0), S°(T) - S°(0), and G°(T) - H°(0) in the interval T → 0 to 350 K, and the standard entropies of formation at T = 298.15 K. The low-temperature (T ≤ 50 K) heat capacity is analyzed using the Debye theory of specific heat and a multifractal model. The values of fractal dimension D are also determined, and conclusions on the investigated structures’ topology are drawn. The corresponding thermodynamic properties of the studied dendrimers are compared as well.     

Synthesis,structure, and phase behavior of carbosilane LC dendrimers with terminal butoxyphenylbenzoate mesogenic groups

Two series of carbosilane LC dendrimers with terminal protonated and deuterated butoxyphenylbenzoate mesogenic groups linked to carbosilane dendritic matrices of the first to fifth generations via an undecylene spacer have been synthesized. The chemical structure of new dendrimers has been studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel-permeation chromatography. The dendrimers of first-fourth generations are characterized by formation of the smectic C mesophase in a wide temperature range, whereas much more complex columnar supramolecular structures are formed in dendrimers of the fifth generation. Structural studied of mesophases by X-ray diffraction and small-angle neutron scattering show that segregation takes place in mixtures of deuterated and protonated LC dendrimers; as a result, huge aggregates composed of hundreds of chemically unbound molecules develop and the sizes of these aggregates reversibly change with temperature.     

Synthesis and properties of carbosilane dendrimers with perfluorohexyl groups in the outer layer of the molecular structure

Branched perfluorohydrosiloxane with CF₃CF₂CF₂C(CF₃)₂(CH₂)₃ groups at the silicon atom was synthesized by a sequence of chemical reactions. The resulting compound was used as a modifying agent for carbosilane dendrimers of the 3rd and 6th generations. Dendrimers with perfluorohexyl terminal groups in surface layer are characterized by a complex of physicochemical methods. It is demonstrated that due to the branching of perfluoroalkyl terminal groups, obtained carbosilane dendrimers are soluble in organic and inorganic media. Differences in the solubility of small and large dendrimers are caused by the formation of the outer fluoride shell of different densities.     

Thermodynamic properties of the first to fifth generations of carbosilane dendrimers with allyl terminal groups

Temperature dependences of the specific heats, characteristic temperatures, and enthalpies of physical transformations of the first to fifth generations of carbosilane dendrimers with allyl terminal groups were studied using an adiabatic vacuum calorimeter in the temperature range 6—340 K. The error of measurements was, as a rule, about 0.2%. Thermodynamic characteristics of physical transformations of the dendrimers were determined and their thermodynamic functions C _p°(T), H°(T)—H°(0), S°(T)—S°(0), and G°(T)—H°(0) were calculated for the temperature range 0—340 K. The thermodynamic functions of the dendrimers are linearly related to their molecular weights, the number of allyl groups on their outer spheres, and the number of moles of diallylmethylsilane per mole of the dendrimers formed. Additive dependence of the properties of the dendrimers on their chemical composition and structure indicates that the energy of interaction between structural fragments of the dendrimers is independent of the dendrimer generation number. The fractal dimensions, D, of all dendrimers studied in this work are 1.2—1.3 in the temperature range 30—50 K, thus indicating a chain-layered structure of the dendrimer glasses.     

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.     

FTIR spectroscopy and DFT studies of carbosilane dendrimers

The FTIR spectra of G(3), G(4), and G(9) generations of polybutylcarbosilane dendrimers have been recorded and analyzed. The structural optimization and normal mode analysis were performed for G(1) generation on the basis of density functional theory (DFT). This calculation gave vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities for the t,t- and g,-g-conformers of the butyl terminal groups, attached to the same silicon atom. The g,-g-conformer is 5.83 kcal/mol less stable compared to t,t-conformer. Relying on DFT calculations a complete vibrational assignment is proposed for different parts of the studied dendrimers. The dependence of band full width at half height in the IR spectra on generation number is established. The IR spectra of carbosilane dendrimers at higher temperatures at the ambient air and isolated from atmosphere air were studied. At temperature 180 degrees C all studied carbosilane dendrimers are stable when contact with atmosphere is absent, in the air they oxidize and thus CO and SiO groups appear.     

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.     

Synthesis and comparative characteristic of organophosphorus dendrimers with phenoxy and deuterophenoxy end groups

Two series of generation 0 to 6 phosphorus dendrimers (6 to 384 end groups) are synthesized starting from the cyclotriphosphazene core. The series are distinguished by the type of their terminal groups: O-C₆H₅ in first series and O-C₆D₅ in the other. These functions are chemically analogous, but they give different spectroscopic signatures which afford detailed information about the structure of these dendrimers.     

Hyperbranched polymers versus dendrimers containing a carbosilane framework and terminal ammonium groups as antimicrobial agents

A new family of amine- and ammonium-terminated hyperbranched polycarbosilanes (PCS) and dendrimers has been synthesized. The functionalization of a polycarbosilane matrix was carried out with peripheral allyl groups by two strategies in the case of PCS: 1) hydrosilylation of allyl amines with PCS containing terminal Si-H bonds, or 2) hydrosilylation of PCS-allyl with an aminosilane. Dendrimers with terminal amine groups were synthesized by hydrosilylation of allydimethylamine. Quaternized systems with MeI are soluble and stable in water or other protic solvent. The antibacterial properties of the ammonium-terminated hyperbranched polycarbosilanes and dendrimers have been evaluated showing that they act as potent biocides against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.     

Diphilic carbosilane dendrimers with different densities of the hydrophilic layer

A universal method for the synthesis of hydrophilic dendrimers was considered. The method is based on a combination of carbosilane dendrimers with different molecular organizations and hydrophilizing agents, viz., substituted hydride silanes containing one and three protected hydroxyl groups. The combination of a limited set of the mentioned reagents makes it possible to control the ratio of hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties of the molecular structure in wide limits. A simple and convenient method for the removal of trimethylsilyl protection of hydroxyl groups in the surface layer of dendrimers was developed.     

Syntheses and Vero toxin-binding activities of carbosilane dendrimers periphery-functionalized with galabiose

Carbosilane dendrimers bearing galabiose (Galα1-4Gal) with three, four, and six galabiose units at the periphery of the dendrimers were synthesized for use as artificial inhibitors against Shiga toxins (Stxs) produced by Escherichia coli O157:H7. The galabiose unit, prepared from penta-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranose, was linked with carbosilane dendrimers of three shapes to afford acetyl-protected glycodendrimers in good yields. De-O-acetylation of the clusters was carried out in the presence of NaOMe and then aq NaOH to give the desired three shapes of galabiose-coated carbosilane dendrimers. Their biological activities toward Stxs were evaluated by kinetic analysis, binding assays, and cytotoxic assays.