Dendrimers physical properties

Structure, physical properties, and applications of dendrimers including heterocyclic fragments 99CRV1665. 

Dendrimer chemistry has taught us that these molecules create a nano-sized closed space that, presumably, is the origin of the specific physical properties of this class of materials. As the next stage of dendrimer chemistry, a macromolecule capable of creating such a space inside its molecule is proposed. To create the nano-sized space, porphyrin is considered to be the best candidate for the component molecules, because it has versatile properties associated with its expanded 7i-electron system and the incorporated metal. The resultant multi-detectable properties of porphyrin, that is, a number of its properties are detectable by many physical methods, may reveal the function of the nanometer-sized space. 

Even if attention has not been focussed on the physical properties of phosphorus-containing dendrimers in this review, one can mention the high dipole moment values observed for these polymers up to 328 debyes for generation 11. 

Parallel studies on PAMAM dendrimers, the Frechet type polyether den-drons, and other dendrimer families have generated an extensive list of unique properties driven by the dendritic state/ Figure 1.18 compares several significant physical property differences between the linear and dendritic topologies related to conformations, crystallinity, solubilities, intrinsic viscosities, entanglement, diffusion/mobility and electronic conductivity. 

Important physical property subtleties were noted within the dendrimer subset. For example, dendrimers possessing asymmetrical branch cells (i.e. Den-kewalter type) exhibit a constant density versus generation relationship (Figure 1.20). This is in sharp contrast to symmetrical branch cell dendrimers (Tomalia-type PAMAM) that exhibit a minimum in density between G = 4 and G = 7 (NH3 core) [48, 96]. This is a transition pattern that is consistent with the observed development of container properties described in Figure 1.21. 

The synthesis of well-defined LCB polymers have progressed considerably beyond the original star polymers prepared by anionic polymerization between 1970 and 1980. Characterization of these new polymers has often been limited to NMR and SEC analysis. The physical properties of these polymers in dilute solution and in the bulk merit attention, especially in the case of completely new architectures such as the dendritic polymers. Many other branched polymers have been prepared, e.g. rigid polymers like nylon [123], polyimide [124] poly(aspartite) [125] and branched poly(thiophene) [126], There seems to be ample room for further development via the use of dendrimers and hyperbran-... 

As the name impHes, the core unit, or focal point group, is located at the center of the dendritic macromolecule and, as such, constitutes only a small proportion of the overall dendrimer structure. However the role of functional groups at the central core can have a profound effect on a number of physical properties and be extremely useful in investigating the structure of dendrimers. The central role played by the focal point group in the success of the convergent growth approach has also been well documented in the above discussions. 

While it can be expected that a number of physical properties of hyperbranched and dendritic macromolecules will be similar, it should not be assumed that all properties found for dendrimers will apply to hyperbranched macromolecules. This difference has clearly been observed in a number of different areas. As would be expected for a material intermediate between dendrimers and linear polymers, the reactivity of the chain ends is lower for hyperbranched macromolecules than for dendrimers [125]. Dendritic macromolecules would therefore possess a clear advantage in processes, which require maximum chain end reactivity such as novel catalysts. A dramatic difference is also observed when the intrinsic viscosity behavior of hyperbranched macromolecules is compared with regular dendrimers. While dendrimers are found to be the only materials that do not obey the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada relationship, hyperbranched macromolecules are found to follow this relationship, albeit with extremely low a values when compared to linear and branched polymers [126]. 

The physical properties of dendrimers such as solubility, arising from their hyperbranched globular shapes and the peripheral groups, can be modified by end-group modification. In core-functionalized dendrimers, the immiscibility of the wedges with a solvent enables precipitation and subsequent separation by filtration. 

Bosman AW, Janssen HM, Meijer EW (1999) About dendrimers structure, physical properties, and applications. Chem Rev 99 1665-1688... 

These dendrimers expand the repertoire of polymers available for study. Current investigations are primarily limited to linear polymers that possess ill-defined solution structures and fewer hydroxyl groups for further modification. The introduction of biocompatible building blocks (e.g., glycerol and lactic acid) augments the favorable and already known physical properties of dendrimers. These properties are likely to facilitate the design of new materials for specific biomedical and tissue engineering applications. 

Olefin metathesis has become a very important reaction in polymer chemistry and natural product synthesis [47-49]. Garber et al. have used the physical properties of dendrimers in order to improve the separation between the dendritic metathesis catalyst and products on silica gel column chromatography [50]. The Van Koten group has reported on the synthesis of different generations of carbosilane dendrimers functionalized with ruthenium metathesis catalysts [51]. 

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