Dendrimer core functionalization with chiral

Brunner et al. [26] synthesized and applied so-called dendrizymes in enan-tioselective catalysis. These catalysts are based on dendrimers which have a functionalized periphery that carries chiral subunits, (e.g. dendrons functionalized with chiral menthol or borneol ligands). The core phosphine donor atoms can be complexed to (transition) metal salts. The resultant dendron-enlarged 1,2-diphosphino-ethane (e.g. 16, see Scheme 17) Rh1 complexes were used as catalysts in the hydrogenation of acetamidocinnamic acid to yield iV-acetyl-phenylalanine (Scheme 17) [26]. A small retardation of the hydrogenation of the substrate was encountered, pointing to an effect of the meta-positioned dendron substituents. No significantly enantiomerically enriched products were isolated. However, a somewhat improved enantioselectivity (up to 10-11% e.e.) was... 

The synthesis and properties of star polymers and dendrimers functionalized with ferrocene units has attracted a great deal of attention. The synthesis of high-generation dendrimers functionalized with chiral ferrocenyl units in their structures has been reported. The chiroptical properties of this class of dendrimer was dependent on the number of ferrocenyl groups and their chemical environment, but not on their position within the dendrimer. Deschenaux has reported the synthesis of hquid crystalline ferrocene-based polymers prossessing an enantiotropic smectic A phase. Ferrocene-functionahzed cyclic siloxane (29) and silsesquioxane branched polymers have also been reported. A hyperbranched polymer with a cubic silsesquioxane core was used to mediate the electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid. 

A number of groups have reported the preparation and in situ application of several types of dendrimers with chiral auxiliaries at their periphery in asymmetric catalysis. These chiral dendrimer ligands can be subdivided into three different classes based on the specific position of the chiral auxiliary in the dendrimer structure. The chiral positions may be located at, (1) the periphery, (2) the dendritic core (in the case of a dendron), or (3) throughout the structure. An example of the first class was reported by Meijer et al. [22] who prepared different generations of polypropylene imine) dendrimers which were substituted at the periphery of the dendrimer with chiral aminoalcohols. These surface functionalities act as chiral ligand sites from which chiral alkylzinc aminoalcoholate catalysts can be generated in situ at the dendrimer periphery. These dendrimer systems were tested as catalyst precursors in the catalytic 1,2-addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde (see e.g. 13, Scheme 14). 

Following up this work, the same group recently published the synthesis of hybrid dendritic ligands containing a combination of dendritic chiral DPEN and Frechet polyether dendrons (Scheme 7) [50]. The solubility of these hybrid dendrimers was found to be controlled by the polyether den-dron. Compared with the simple core-functionalized systems displayed in Fig. 21, the hybrid dendrimers showed similar catalytic activity but reduced recyclability. 

One of the first applications of dendrimers as organometallic hosts was their use as enantioselective catalysts. Indeed, dendrimers that are functionalized with transition metals in the core potentially can mimic the properties of enzymes. Brunner introduced the term dendrizymes for core-functionalized transition metal catalysts which might be used in enantioselective catalysis. The dendrimeric organometallic complex shown in Figure 34 is an example of such a dendrizyme inside which the chiral dendritic branches create a chiral pocket around the transition metal. 

A wide range of dendrimers with functional core is described in the literature. Thus chromophores [7], electrochemically active, redox active [8], and catalyti-cally active [9] or also self-associating and chiral units as well as polymerisable monomers and polymers have been successfully introduced into the centre of dendrimers. However, the core unit not only has a determining effect on the function, but also has a decisive influence on the multiplicity, size, and shape of the dendrimer. 

The combination of an efficient control over the environment of the active sites in a multi-functional catalyst and its immobilization within an insoluble macromolecular support was pioneered by Seebach et al. In their approach, the chiral ligand to be immobilized was placed in the core of a polymerizable dendrimer, followed by copolymerization of the latter with styrene as shown in Scheme 9 [58]. In this way, no further cross-finking agent was necessary, since the dendrimer itself acted as cross-linker. The dendritic branches are thought to act as spacer units, keeping the obstructing polystyrene backbone... 

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