Synthesis and photochemical behavior of phosphorus dendrimers containing azobenzene units within the branches and/or on the surface

We describe the synthesis of three series of phosphorus-containing dendrimers having azobenzene derivatives specifically placed at some generations in the interior and/or on the surface. The largest compound obtained possesses 48 azobenzene groups on the surface. Irradiation at 350 nm induces isomerization of the azobenzene groups from the E form to the Z form, whatever their location. The thermal back-isomerization to the E form in the dark at room temperature was observed in all cases. The kinetics of this Z-->E back-isomerization was studied in several cases; the rate is not dependent on the number of azobenzene units or of the generation, when the azobenzene groups are linked to the surface of the dendrimer. A different behavior was observed when the azobenzene groups were located within the framework of the dendrimer.     

Supramolecular Self-Associations of Amphiphilic Dendrons and Their Properties

This review presents precisely defined amphiphilic dendrons, their self-association properties, and their different uses. Dendrons, also named dendritic wedges, are composed of a core having two different types of functions, of which one type is used for growing or grafting branched arms, generally multiplied by 2 at each layer by using 1→2 branching motifs. A large diversity of structures has been already synthesized. In practically all cases, their synthesis is based on the synthesis of known dendrimers, such as poly(aryl ether), poly(amidoamine) (in particular PAMAM), poly(amide) (in particular poly(L-lysine)), 1→3 branching motifs (instead of 1→2), poly(alkyl ether) (poly(glycerol) and poly(ethylene glycol)), poly(ester), and those containing main group elements (poly(carbosilane) and poly(phosphorhydrazone)). In most cases, the hydrophilic functions are on the surface of the dendrons, whereas one or two hydrophobic tails are linked to the core. Depending on the structure of the dendrons, and on the experimental conditions used, the amphiphilic dendrons can self-associate at the air-water interface, or form micelles (eventually tubular, but most generally spherical), or form vesicles. These associated dendrons are suitable for the encapsulation of low-molecular or macromolecular bioactive entities to be delivered in cells. This review is organized depending on the nature of the internal structure of the amphiphilic dendrons (aryl ether, amidoamine, amide, quaternary carbon atom, alkyl ether, ester, main group element). The properties issued from their self-associations are described all along the review.     

Fluorescent Groups at the Core of Phosphorus Dendrons and Their Properties

This review presents the synthesis of dendrons (dendritic wedges) based on cyclotriphosphazene cores, in which one function is a fluorescent group, and the five remaining functions are used for growing the dendritic branches. The growing of the branches is carried out by a divergent method, using a two-step process which implies hydroxybenzaldehyde and the phosphorhydrazide H₂NNMeP(S)Cl₂. Four different fluorophores have been used, derived from maleimide, julolidine, pyrene, or from a near-infra-red fluorophore. Depending on the type of fluorophore and on the type of terminal functions of the dendrons, different applications have been targeted. One can cite experiments in catalysis or for the elaboration of materials, transfection experiments, the study of anti-cancer properties, and imaging in relation with the human immune system.     

Assembly and mechanical properties of phosphorus dendrimer/polyelectrolyte multilayer microcapsules

We report the preparation, characterization, and mechanical properties of polyelectrolyte/phosphorus dendrimer multilayer microcapsules. The shells of these microcapsules are composed either by alternating poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and positively charged dendrimer G4(NH+Et2Cl-)96 or by alternating poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and negatively charged dendrimer G4(CH-COO-Na+)96. The same multilayers were constructed on planar support to examine their layer-by-layer growth and to measure the multilayer thickness. Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR) showed regular linear growth of the assembly upon each bilayer deposited. We probe the mechanical properties of these polyelectrolyte/dendrimer microcapsules by measuring force-deformation curves with the atomic force microscope (AFM). The experiment suggests that they are much softer than PSS/PAH microcapsules studied before. This softening is attributed to an enhanced permeability of the polyelectrolyte/dendrimer multilayer shells as compared with multilayers formed by linear polyelectrolytes. In contrast, Young's modulus of both dendrimer-based multilayers was found to be on the same order as that of PSS/PAH multilayers.     

Phosphorus Dendrimers: Nano-objects for Nanosciences

Summary: The influence of the size (the generation) of phosphorus dendrimers on their properties is discussed in three main fields of applications: catalysis, new materials, and biology. Typical examples are given to illustrate these three fields: Knoevenagel condensation for catalysis, elaboration of highly sensitive DNA chips for materials, transfection experiments, and anti-prion activity for biology.     

Liquid-Crystalline Order in the Phosphorus-Containing DenDrimers

The structure of phosphorus-containing dendrimers has been studied by IR spectroscopy and optical polarization microscopy. The repeating units of dendrimer molecules are mesogens. This property arises from the conjugation of the aromatic ring and the hydrazone group. An analysis of the IR spectra showed that, with an increase in the generation number, the width of the stretching vibration bands ν(PN) and ν(PO) increases. Difficulties in packing molecules of higher generations cause conformational diversity. The shape of the dendrimer molecules was determined by analyzing the increments of dipole moments. Additionally, the modeling of the stacking of repeating links was performed. The spherical model of molecules does not satisfy the experimental dipole moments of the dendrimers. The flat disk model is more suitable for explaining step changes in dipole moments. The liquid-crystalline ordering of dendrimers under the action of applied pressure was found. With simultaneous heating and uniaxial compression, optical anisotropy appears in dendrimers. It is associated with the formation of liquid-crystalline order. However, a thermodynamically stable liquid-crystalline phase is not formed in this case. Dendrimers most likely have disk-shaped molecules.     

Tailored modification of quartz surfaces by covalent immobilization of small molecules (γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane), monodisperse macromolecules (dendrimers), and poly(styrene/acrolein/divinylbenzene) microspheres with narrow diameter distribution

Quartz plates were modified by consecutive immobilization of γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS), phosphorus containing dendrimers with aldehyde groups (generation 5 – G5), Starburst PAMAM dendrimers generation 4 (G4-PAMAM), and poly(styrene/acrolein/divinylbenzene) microspheres [P(SAD)]. In this way surfaces with heterogeneity on molecular, macromolecular, and microscopic levels, and which were equipped with functional amino or aldehyde groups were obtained. Surface layers were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and by contact-angle measurements. Analysis of XPS spectra revealed that the thickness of the layer of G5 on the SiO₂-APTS substrate was 3.7 nm, i.e., the thickness was typical for macromolecular dimensions. The average thickness of the layer of PAMAM dendrimers on SiO₂-APTS-G5 was found to be 0.35 and 0.29 nm, depending on whether calculations were based on attenuation of the intensity of the Si2p or the P2p signal respectively. This thickness was unreasonably low for a monolayer of PAMAM dendrimers and indicated that the surface of the SiO₂-APTS-G5 substrate was incompletely covered with these macromolecules. The XPS method was also used for the determination of the degree of coverage of the surface of a SiO₂-APTS-G5-PAMAM plate with P(SAD) microspheres. The degree of coverage was found to be 0.60 and approaches the maximum theoretically possible value (0.62) for microspheres attached chaotically and irreversibly to the surface in an arrangement one microsphere thick. Subsequent coverage of the SiO₂-APTS-G5-PAMAM-P(SAD) substrate with PAMAM dendrimers resulted in the formation of a PAMAM adlayer 3.2 nm thick, close to the molecular dimensions of these dendrimers. Contact-angle measurements revealed considerable differences in the hydrophobicity of the surfaces of the quartz plates, depending on their modification. Hydrophobicity increased in the order SiO₂ < SiO₂-APTS-G5-PAMAM < SiO₂-APTS ≤ SiO₂-APTS-G5 < SiO₂-APTS-G5-PAMAM-P(SAD). Received: 17 March 1998 Accepted: 14 September 1998     

Janus carbosilane/phosphorhydrazone dendrimers synthesized by the ‘click’ Staudinger reaction

The first association of carbosilane dendrons (having a phosphine at the focal point) with phosphorhydrazone dendrons (having a thiophosphoryl azide at the focal point) has been successfully carried out by ‘Staudinger click’ reaction. The corresponding Janus dendrimers possess the characteristics of both components; they are oily as the carbosilane dendrons, and they can be easily functionalized as the phosphorhydrazone dendrons.     

Dendrimers and DNA: combinations of two special topologies for nanomaterials and biology

Interactions between two precisely defined three-dimensional architectures (DNA and dendrimers) are described. Highly synergetic effects occur, as illustrated in two cases: dendrimers can be used as three-dimensional linkers for oligonucleotides, affording highly sensitive microarrays (biochips), and positively charged dendrimers strongly interact with DNA, allowing penetration inside cells (genetic transfection).