Dendrimers nanoscale catalysts

Today research does no longer focus on the dendrimer itself but on the multiplication of functional components attached to a dendritic skeleton and new materials with specific properties (redox, ligand, and liquid crystalline properties, biochemical activity. ..) are anticipated. [9] Industry has also shown increasing interest in functional cascade molecules for applications in diverse areas such as medical engineering, agrochemistry, and the development of photocopier toner additives. Concrete applications include nanoscale catalysts [2a],... 

Dendrimers are branch-like polymers (see Chapter 5, Section 5.8) and have been used as nano-reactorsThese branched molecules have large voids in their structure that can incorporate a catalytic species into the inner nanoscale environment of the dendrimer. The dendrimer poly(propylene imine) (PPl) has been used as a nanoreactor for Heck reactions and alkyl aminations. 4-Dipheny Iphosphinobenzoic acid is fixed into the voids of the dendrimer via ionic contacts between the positive charges on protonated amine functional groups and the deprotonated benzoic acid and used to anchor the palladium catalyst (Figure 2.36). 

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