One‐Step Surface Decoration of Poly(propyleneimines) (PPIs) with the Glyceryl Moiety: New Way for Recycling Homogeneous Dendrimer‐Based Catalysts

Abstract

Abstract First to fifth generations of poly(propyleneimines) (PPIs) were reacted with glycerol carbonate yielding a new family of glycerol‐decorated PPIs (GD‐PPI). Owing to the presence of glyceryl units surrounding the PPI core, the high generation GD‐PPI‐5 can be successfully immobilized in a glycerol phase, thus offering a convenient route for possible utilization as a recyclable homogeneous catalyst. In this context, we show here that GD‐PPI‐5 can be used as a basic catalyst in the ring opening of epoxides with carboxylic acids in glycerol. The high affinity of GD‐PPI‐5 for the glycerol phase allowed us to (i) selectively extract the reaction products from the glycerol/GD‐PPI‐5 mixture and (ii) recycle the GD‐PPI‐5 catalyst. More generally, this work offers new tools for the convenient recycling of valuable but expensive dendrimers.