Dendrimer Nanoreactors

Significance

Poly(phenylene oxide), an important engineering plastic, can be generated through copper-catalyzed, aerobic oxidation. However, a large amount of base is required, thus decreasing atom economy. The dendritic phenyl­azomethine DPAG ₄ previously synthesized in this group (Org. Lett. 2004, 6, 1709) was found to bind metal complexes only at the deepest layer of the dendrimer (Nature 2002, 415, 509). Thus, the remaining peripheral imine nitrogens (C=N) act as supercondensed bases around the catalytic site negating the need for base additives. The dendrimer-copper complex above was utilized as an additive-free nanoreactor to produce polymers of molecular weight around 4000 Da.