Functional group diversity in dendrimers.

[structure: see text] A methodology for synthesizing dendrons with different peripheral functionalities is described. The benzyl ether-based dendrons reported here were synthesized using allyl and methoxymethyl ether-based protection-deprotection strategies.

Synthesis of dendrimers with multifunctional periphery using an ABB' monomer.

A new methodology using an ABB' monomer for synthesizing dendrons with multiple functionalities in the periphery is described.

Multiple nanoscale templates by orthogonal degradation of a supramolecular block copolymer lithographic system.

An orthogonal approach to the creation of multiple nanoscale templates from a single supramolecular block copolymer system is presented. The enabling feature of this strategy is the design of block copolymers that incorporate independent degradation chemistries which permits each block copolymer to be addressed individually and sequentially. By blending a block copolymer containing H-bond donor groups and a UV-degradable domain with the complementary copolymer containing H-bond acceptor groups and an acid-cleavable segment, diverse and tunable nanoporous thin films with different pore sizes and array patterns can be obtained. This robust strategy demonstrates the potential of combining orthogonal chemistry with the inherent tunability of supramolecular systems.

Probing every layer in dendrons.

Dendrons with a fluorescent probe in a specific location have been synthesized and characterized. Accessibility of guest molecules to each of these layers was then analyzed using an intermolecular photoinduced electron-transfer process. Comparisons of the accessibility among each layer of the dendron and among the generations are provided.

Sequences in dendrons and dendrimers.

Sequential incorporation of a variety of functional groups forms the basis for specificity in biomacromolecules. Introduction of such diversity and sequencing ability in artificial macromolecules is fundamentally interesting. In this paper, three different synthetic approaches have been used to build dendrons and dendrimers in which all the monomer units are different from each other. The synthetic strategies described in this paper involve the use of (i) an ABB(p) monomer, (ii) an ABB' monomer, and (iii) an ABB(m) monomer. The complementarity and the versatility of these synthetic approaches should render them useful for a variety of applications.