Starburstr dendrimers — Nanoscopic supermolecules according to dendritic rules and principles

Abstract

Abstract Construction of dendritic macromolecules based on the mimicry of macroscopic branching patterns found in trees is reviewed. From this mimicry, synthetic strategies have been developed for the preparation of precise macromolecular building blocks referred to as Starburstr̀/Cascade dendrimers. These dendrimer constructions involve the amplifications of matter (mass) by organizing monomer units around initiator cores according to geometrically driven mathematical rules and principles. The predictable precision of mass and valency (i.e., number of reactive surface groups) displayed by these dendrimers, as a function of generation, validates their proposed role as fundamental nanoscopic building blocks (i.e., particle sizes of 10 −1000Å). This emerging area of “structure‐controlled polymers” is defining a fourth new major class of macromolecular architecture. Ideal, defect free structures of Starburst r̀ polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers (e.g., NH 3 core; generation = 2.0, MWt. 2,414) have been synthesized in kilogram quantities with overall yields of 60‐70%. The precise masses and surface valencies associated with these dendrimer structures allow one to view these entities as “nanoscopic analogues” to atoms. As such, basic rules of chemical combination between dendrimers to give definite, stoichiometric compositions can be defined much as first noted by Dalton for atoms. The use of these nanoscopic building blocks (i.e., 10–1000Å species) to construct supramolecular/supermolecular structures such as nanoscopic compounds, clusters and macro‐lattices will be reviewed. Registered trademark of Dendritech Inc.