Surface functionalization convergent-growth approach

Hawker, C.J. Erechet, J.M.J. Control of surface functionality in the synthesis of dendritic macromolecules using the convergent-growth approach. Macromolecules 1990, 23, 4726 729. 

The combination of standard techniques described above has also been used by other authors19-20 to determine accurately the structure of dendritic systems prepared by the convergent-growth approach. Imperfections may be detected, and reactions can be easily monitored for product purity. Therefore, by following a predetermined synthetic strategy, molecules of discrete size and molecular weight can be prepared. In the following text, the characterization techniques described above, will be extended to determine and confirm the structure of more complex dendritic macromolecules such as surface-functionalized and other block copolymers. 

In 1989, Fr chet and co-workers first reported the convergent growth approach [8,9]. In contrast to the divergent growth approach, dendrimer construction is initiated at what will eventually become the outer surface shell of the ideally branched macromolecule and proceeds inward, by a stepwise addition of branching monomers, followed by the final attachment of each branched dendritic sub-unit (or dendron ) to a poly-functional core. This synthesis generated a poly(aromatic ether) dendrimer and a repetitive sequence of Williamson ether coupling and bromination reactions were employed as shown in Scheme 8.1. 

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