Divergent synthesis of triazine dendrimers using a trimethylene-dipiperidine linker that increases efficiency, simplifies analysis, and improves product solubility

To combine benefits stemming from the high nucleophilicity of piperidine and the flexibility afforded by aliphatic triamine linkers, a trimethylene-dipiperidine linker has been used to synthesize triazine dendrimers using a divergent route. The cyclic, secondary amine of the linker reacts with monochlorotriazine monomer units, 1, leading to a dendrimer growth strategy that requires two-steps-per-generation. This strategy reduces the number of steps required for synthesis by 50%. The new linker also reduces complexity in the NMR spectra because rotational isomerism observed in linkers with primary amines is not present. In addition, the final products contain no interior hydrogen-bond donating groups. The high solubility observed in organic solvents for protected dendrimers is attributed to this factor and the inherent flexibility provided by the linker. Gas phase simulation suggests that globular structure emerges after generation three, whereafter the core of the dendrimer is effectively shielded from solvent.     

A third generation chiral phosphorus-containing dendrimer as ligand in Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation

The synthesis of a third generation phosphorus-containing dendrimer possessing 24 chiral iminophosphine end groups derived from (2S)-2-amino-1-(diphenylphosphinyl)-3-methylbutane is described. In situ complexation of this dendrimer by [Pd(η³-C₃H₅)Cl]₂ affords a catalyst, which is used in asymmetric allylic alkylations of rac-(E)-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate and pivalate. The percentage of conversion, the yield of isolated 2-(1,3-diphenylallyl)-malonic acid dimethyl ester, and its enantiomeric excess have been measured in each case, and were found to be good to very good (ee from 90% to 95%). Furthermore, the dendritic catalyst can be recovered and reused at least two times, with almost the same efficiency.     

Synthesis of dicarboxylate oligosaccharide multilayer terminal functionality upon poly(lysine) dendrimer scaffolding

A reactive three‐layered dendrimer containing carboxyl groups was synthesized by the coupling of dicarboxylic acid and a highly reactive, two‐layered glycopeptide dendrimer. Lactose, maltose, or maltotriose was reacted with the poly(lysine) dendrimer in its third and fourth generations by reductive amination and afforded two‐layered glycolysine dendrimers. The reaction was conducted in a borate buffer (pH 9.0). ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry analyses were applied for the determination of the structures of the products. When an excess amount of the oligosaccharide and a long reaction time were used, the degree of substitution increased to 1.5–2.0 against an amino group. For the preparation of highly reactive, multilayered dendrimers for an antigen carrier, C6 hydroxy groups of the oligosaccharides were selectively esterified by adipic acid and suberic acid to give 6‐O‐adipoyl oligosaccharide–poly(lysine) dendrimers and 6‐O‐suberoyl oligosaccharide–poly(lysine) dendrimers. The reactivity of these multilayered dendrimers was examined by a model reaction with phenylalanine ethyl ester. The dendrimer showed high reactivity, providing phenylalanine ethyl ester–dicarboxylate oligosaccharide–poly(lysine) dendrimers with a considerably high proportion of phenylalanine residues. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3622–3633, 2002     

Synthesis,Redox Activity of Rigid Ferrocenyl Dendrimers,and Isolation of Robust Ferricinium and Class‐II Mixed‐Valence Dendrimers

The coupling reactions of ethynylferrocene with trihalogenoarenes do not lead to ethynylferrocenyl arenes that are soluble enough to form the basis of a suitable construction of stiff ferrocenylethynyl arene‐cored dendrimers, which explains the previous lack of reports on stiff ferrocenyl dendrimers. However, rigid ferrocenyl‐terminated dendrimers have been synthesized from 1,3,5‐tribromo‐ and triiodobenzene through Sonogashira and Negishi reactions with 1,2,3,4,5‐pentamethyl‐1′‐ethylnylferrocene ( 1 a ), according to 1→2 connectivity. With compound 1 a , the construction of a soluble dendrimer ( 10 a ) that contained 12 ethynylpentamethylferrocenyl termini was achieved. Stiff dendrimer 10 a shows a single, reversible cyclic voltammetry (CV) wave (with adsorption), which disfavors the hopping heterogeneous electron‐transfer mechanism that is postulated for redox‐terminated dendrimers that contain flexible tethers. The selectivity of these Sonogashira reactions allows the synthesis of an arene‐cored dendron ( 2 c ) that contains both ethynylferrocenyl and 1,2,3,4,5‐pentamethyl‐ferrocenylethynyl redox groups, thus leading to the construction of a dendrimer ( 7 c ) that contains both types of differently substituted ferrocenyl groups with two well‐separated reversible CV waves. Upon selective oxidation, this mixed dendrimer ( 7 c ) leads to a class‐II mixed‐valence dendrimer, 7 c [PF₆]₃, as shown by Mössbauer spectroscopy, whereas oxidation of the related fully pentamethylferrocenylated dendrimer ( 7 a ) leads to the all‐ferricinium dendrimer, 7 a [PF₆]₆.     

Organoiron activation combined with electron- and proton transfer: implications in biology, organic synthesis, catalysis and nanosciences

This Account summarizes the results obtained in our research group on the intra- and intermolecular organoiron activation of substrates by combining the coordination of arenes by CpFe^+/0 and electron and/or proton transfer. The concepts involved are those of electron and proton reservoirs, activation of O₂ by single electron transfer in solution, mimic and inhibition of the reactivity of superoxide radical anion, materials synthesis (for instance fullerene anions), electronic communication between two metals connected by a hydrocarbon bridge, activation of arene ligands for multiple functionalization, giant dendrimer synthesis and electron transfer in catalysis (redox and electron-transfer-chain).     

The superstructure of carbosilane dendrimers with perfluorinated end groups in bulk and in solution

Carbosilane dendrimers of generation 1 to 4 are functionalized with perfluorinated (-C₆F₁₃) end groups. Extending the spacer between the central Si and the first layer of branching points allows the synthesis of the 4^th generation. The superstructure of these systems in bulk observed with X-ray scattering is the result of the microphase separation between the carbosilane scaffold and the end groups. It varies with generation from a layered to a columnar structure. In dilute solution only the second generation dendrimer shows a tendency for aggregation. The others form compact particles consisting of single molecules with a core shell structure.     

Self‐assembly of Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles with Rigid and Flexible Multifunctional Linkers

The interparticle spacing of carboxyl functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au‐COOH) were mediated by rigid crosslinkers, octa(3‐aminopropyl)octasilsesquioxane (POSS‐NH₃ ⁺) and poly(amidoamine) dendrimer terminated with hydroxyl groups (PAMAM‐OH), and a flexible polymeric linker, poly(hexanul viologen) (6‐VP). Regular interparticle spacing was achieved by utilizing POSS‐NH₃ ⁺ and PAMAM‐OH dendrimer as cross linkers, whereas size growth of Au‐COOH was observed featuring no interparticle spacing by utilizing 6‐VP as the crosslinker.     

Poly(propylene imine) dendrimer complexes of Cu(II), Zn(II), and Co(III) as catalysts of hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate

Poly(propylene imine) dendrimers having 8, 32, and 64 primary amine end groups form diamino Cu(II), diamino Zn(II), and tetramino Co(III) complexes that are identified spectrophotometrically and titrimetrically. The dendrimer–metal ion complexes catalyze the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate in zwitterionic buffer solutions at pH ≤ 8.1 with relative activities Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Co(III). The rates of hydrolysis are faster with sodium perchlorate than with sodium chloride to control ionic strength. In sodium perchlorate solutions with Cu(II) the rates increase with increasing size of the dendrimer. In sodium chloride solutions with Cu(II) the rates decrease with increasing size of the dendrimer. Rate constants in buffered sodium chloride solutions of dendrimers and 1.0mM Cu(II) are 1.3–6.3 times faster than in the absence of Cu(II). The fastest hydrolyses occurred at a dendrimer primary amine to Cu(II) ratio NH₂/Cu ≤ 2. At NH₂/Cu = 4 and with the 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclodecane complex of Cu(II) hydrolysis rates were much slower. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2727–2736, 1999     

Cyclic poly(lactide)s via the ROPPOC method catalyzed by alkyl‐ or aryltin chlorides

A comparison of tributyltin chloride, dibutyltin dichloride, and butyltin trichloride as catalysts of ring‐opening polymerizations (ROPs) of l‐lactides at 160 °C in bulk reveals increasing reactivity in the above order, but only the least reactive catalysts, Bu₃SnCl, yield a uniform reaction product, namely cyclic poly(L‐lactide)s with weight average molecular weights (M_w's) in the range of 40,000–80,000. A comparison of dimethyltin , dibutyltin , and diphenyltin dichlorides resulted in the following order of reactivity: Me₂SnCl₂ < Bu₂SnCl₂ < <Ph₂SnCl₂. In this series also, the most reactive catalyst yields cyclic polylactides, but the extent of cyclization varies with the molecular weight. The formation of cyclic polylactides is explained by ROP combined with simultaneous polycondensation involving end‐to‐end cyclization (ROPPOC method). ROP of meso‐lactide at 80 or 60 °C yields even‐numbered linear chains as main products, a result supporting the ROPPOC mechanism. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 952–960     

Copolymerization of 1,6-anhydro-ß-D-galactopyranose and 1,6-anhydro-ß-D-mannopyranose derivatives

1,6-Anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-(p-methylbenzyl)-ß-D -galactopyranose (TXGal,M₁) has been copolymerized with 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-ß-D -mannopyranose (TBMan,M₂), the products characterized by NMR, specific rotation, and viscosity, and the reactivity ratios calculated. The reactivity ratios r₁ = 0.37 ± 0.15 and r₂ = 38 ± 4 indicate that the anhydromannose derivative is about 100 times as reactive as that of anhydrogalactose. A comparison of glucose, mannose, and galactose copolymerizations suggests that the reactivity differences of the three propagating cations are comparatively small and the reactivity differences of the monomers large. This result is consistent with a mechanism proposed earlier. Methyl substitution on the aromatic rings of the p-xylyl groups inhibits the initiation process significantly relative to benzyl, but propagation only slightly.     

Die synthese von bis-(p-methoxyphenyl)- und bis-(p-nitrophenyl)-keten und deren verhalten gegenüber sauerstoff und nucleophilen reagenzien

The synthesis of bis-(p-methoxyphenyl)-ketene (IX) and of bis-(p-nitrophenyl)-ketene (VI) from the corresponding aril-monohydrazones is described. Whereas IX could be isolated in pure crystalline form, VI had to be prepared as a solution. Addition of methanol to diphenylketene (III) proceeds 1.6 times faster than to dianisylketene (IX). Bis-(p-nitrophenyl)-ketene (VI) is considerably more reactive towards water than either III or IX; a quantitative determination of its relative reactivity was not possible. Dianisylketene reacts approximately 15 times faster with molecular oxygen and yields 4 times more of the corresponding diarylketone and carbon dioxide than do the ketenes III and VI. It is shown with ¹⁸O₂ that molecular oxygen is indeed involved in the oxidation of dianisylketene to dimethoxybenzophenone and carbon dioxide.     

Oxidative chlorination of 4-pentenols and other functionalized hydrocarbons

Substituted 4-pentenols undergo regio- and stereoselective chlorocyclization, when treated in solutions of dimethyl carbonate with chloride, a terminal oxidant, and a buffered proton source. Effective oxidants for liberating chlorine-like reactivity from chloride in the temperature range between 20 and 40 °C are tert-butyl hydroperoxide, activated by a titanium(IV) or a molybdenum(VI) ONO-chelate complex, and potassium monoperoxysulfate from the ternary salt 2KHSO₅·KHSO₄·K₂SO₄ (oxone^®). Substituents in the flexible part of the alkenol direct oxidative chlorocyclization 2,5-trans- and 2,4-cis-selectively. (E)-Configuration at the alkene translates anti-specifically into relative configuration of substituents at the β-chlorohydrin ether entity. A phenyl group bound to the terminal alkene carbon alters the inherent 5-exo-specificity for chlorocyclization of terminal 4-pentenols toward 6-endo-selectivity, as exemplified by synthesis of trans-3-chloro-2-phenyltetrahydropyran from (E)-5-phenyl-4-penten-1-ol in up to 74% yield. Competition kinetics show that 5-exo-chlorocyclization of 1-phenyl-4-penten-1-ol occurs at 40 °C 600 times faster than electrophilic aromatic chlorosubstitution of anisole. Prenyl-type alkenols undergo allylic chlorination with an ene-type selectivity, as exemplified in synthesis of a building block for the fragrance component rose oxide from citronellol.     

Electrochemical and In Situ FTIR Studies of Adsorption and Oxidation of Dimethyl Ether on Platinum Electrode

Dissociative adsorption and electrooxidation of dimethyl ether (DME) on a platinum electrode in different pH solutions were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in situ FTIR reflection spectroscopy. The coverage of the dissociative adsorbed species was measured about 70% from hydrogen adsorption-desorption region (0.05-0.35 V (vs RHE)) of steady-state voltammogram recorded in 0.1 mol·L⁻¹ H₂SO₄ solution. It was found that the electrochemical reactivity of DME was pH dependent, i.e., the larger the pH value was, the less the reactivity of DME would be. No perceptible reactivity of DME in 0.1 mol·L⁻¹ NaOH solution could be detected. It was revealed that the protonation of the oxygen atom in the C-O-C bond played a key role in the electrooxidation of DME. In situ FTIR spectroscopic results illustrated that linearly bonded CO (CO_L) species determined at low potential region were derived from the dissociative adsorption of DME and behaved as ‘poisoning’ intermediate. The CO_L species could be oxidized to CO₂ at potential higher than 0.55 V (vs RHE) and in the potential range from 0.75 to 1.00 V (vs RHE) DME was oxidized simultaneously via HCOOH species that were identified as the reactive intermediates.     

CBr4-photoirradiation protocol for chemoselective deprotection of acid labile primary hydroxyl protecting groups

CBr₄-photoirradiation protocol was found to be a mild, highly efficient and selective method for deprotection of isopropylidene, benzylidene, triphenylmethyl and tert-butyldimethylsilyl protecting groups on sugar molecules. The conditions of this reaction can also be used to cleave peptides off from acid-labile resin linkers in solid-phase peptide synthesis.     

Preparation, characterization, and antimicrobial property of cotton cellulose fabric grafted with poly (propylene imine) dendrimer

Two generations of poly (propylene imine) dendrimer with amino terminated groups (G2- and G5-PPI-NH₂) were grafted on cotton cellulose fabric using cross linking agents (citric or glutaric acids). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified ester groups which were formed between hydroxyl groups of the cotton fabric and carboxylic groups of the cross linking agents. Also, attenuated total reflectance-FTIR (ATR-FTIR) analysis confirmed formation of amide groups between the carboxylic groups of the cross linking agents and the amino end groups of the dendrimers. Nitrogen content (N-content) analysis revealed the presence of the dendrimers on the cotton fabric even after 5 washing cycles. In order to study the dispersion of the PPI dendrimers on the surface of the cotton fabric, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was performed. The particle size distribution of the G2- and G5-PPI-NH₂ aqueous solutions was also determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Antimicrobial activity of the PPI dendrimer aqueous solutions and the cotton cellulose fabric grafted with the dendrimers was evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively against Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and fungus (Candida albicans). The dendrimer grafted cotton cellulose fabric exhibited a 99 % reduction in bacterial counts against S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans. The antimicrobial activities of the grafted cotton cellulose fabric with the PPI dendrimers were maintained even after 5 washing cycles.     

Viologen-based benzylic dendrimers: selective synthesis of 3,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)benzylbromide and conformational analysis of the corresponding viologen dendrimer subunit

Convergent and divergent strategies for the synthesis of viologen dendrimers with 1,3,5-tri-methylene-branching units are discussed. The title compound is easily transformed into 1-[3,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)benzyl]-4-(pyridin-4-yl)pyridinium hexafluorophosphate, which is used in sequential growth and activation steps as a CB₂ compound in the cascade-type dendrimer synthesis (B = -OH, activation = -OH → Br). Analysis of the dendrimer structure reveals that three torsional angles, that is, τ₁ between the two pyridinium units, τ₂ between the methylene and pyridinium and τ₃ between the methylene and phenyl, determine the conformational space of the dendrimers. We report here the crystal structure of 1-[3,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)benzyl]-4-(pyridin-4-yl)pyridinium as PF₆⁻ salt which represents the smallest subunit of the dendrimer that shows the same three torsional angles. The crystal structure together with the results from PM3 calculations opens an avenue to judge the structure of benzylic viologen-based dendrimers.     

Synthesis of N-aryl amines enabled by photocatalytic dehydrogenation

Catalytic dehydrogenation (CD) via visible-light photoredox catalysis provides an efficient route for the synthesis of aromatic compounds. However, access to N-aryl amines, which are widely utilized synthetic moieties, via visible-light-induced CD remains a significant challenge, because of the difficulty in controlling the reactivity of amines under photocatalytic conditions. Here, the visible-light-induced photocatalytic synthesis of N-aryl amines was achieved by the CD of allylic amines. The unusual strategy using C₆F₅I as an hydrogen-atom acceptor enables the mild and controlled CD of amines bearing various functional groups and activated C–H bonds, suppressing side-reaction of the reactive N-aryl amine products. Thorough mechanistic studies suggest the involvement of single-electron and hydrogen-atom transfers in a well-defined order to provide a synergistic effect in the control of the reactivity. Notably, the back-electron transfer process prevents the desired product from further reacting under oxidative conditions.

The synergy of SET, HAT, and BET enables a visible-light induced catalytic dehydrogenation for the synthesis of N-aryl amines.     

Interfacial regions governing internal cavities of dendrimers. Studies of poly(alkyl aryl ether) dendrimers constituted with linkers of varying alkyl chain length

This report deals with a study of the properties of internal cavities of dendritic macromolecules that are capable of encapsulating and mediating photoreactions of guest molecules. The internal cavity structures of dendrimers are determined by the interfacial regions between the aqueous exterior and hydrocarbon like interior constituted by the linkers that connect symmetrically sited branch points constituting the dendrimer and head groups that cap the dendrimers. Phloroglucinol-based poly(alkyl aryl ether) dendrimers constituted with a homologous series of alkyl linkers were undertaken for the current study. Twelve dendrimers within first, second, and third generations, having ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, and n-pentyl groups as the linkers and hydroxyl groups at peripheries in each generation, were synthesized. Encapsulation of pyrene and coumarins by aqueous basic solutions of dendrimers were monitored by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies, which showed that a lower generation dendrimer with an optimal alkyl linker presented better encapsulation abilities than a higher generation dendrimer. Norrish type I photoreaction of dibenzyl ketone was carried out within the above series of dendrimers to probe their abilities to hold guests and reactive intermediate radical pairs within themselves. The extent of cage effect from the series of third generation dendrimers was observed to be higher with dendrimers having an n-pentyl group as the linker.     

Effect of synthesis duration on the morphological and structural modification of the sea urchin-nanostructured γ-MnO2 and study of its electrochemical reactivity in alkaline medium

Single-crystalline nanorods and sea urchin-like morphology of the γ-MnO₂ nanostructures were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method at different synthesis durations. The as-synthesized products were characterized by the techniques X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission gun-scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray elemental analysis (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), isotherms of N₂ adsorption/desorption and BET-BJH models. The effect of synthesis duration on the morphology, porous structure, and crystallographic form of MnO₂ powders was studied. The electrochemical reactivity of as-prepared powders was investigated in 1 mol L^?1 KOH by both cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy by using a micro-cavity electrode. The results show that the best electrochemical reactivity of the MnO₂ powder was obtained with synthesis duration of 24 h.