Dendrimers Iv: Metal Coordination, Self Assembly, Catalysis (topics In Current Chemistry) (v. 4)

With the present issue of Topics in Current Chemistry, the fourth and final volume concluding the mini-series on dendrimer chemistry has appeared. With a focus on the interdisciplinary bridges to neighboring fields, the contributions to this volume focus on coordination, catalysis and self-assembly, nicely balanced by a synthesis-based article on dendritic oligoethers. Dendrimers stand within the focus of quite an interdisciplinary area of research: Metallodendrimers bring inorganic chemistry into play. Organic synthesis c- tributes much to the preparation of dendrimers, which are then studied by various physicochemical methods such as small angle neutron scattering, photochemistry, and many others. The relation to macromolecules is straig- forward, but their routine use in biochemistry, e. g. , as gene transfection vectors may be less obvious. Al1 these different aspects have been combined in the Topics tetralogy in order to provide an overview as broad as possible in this fascinating field of chemistry. The fourth and final issue in the series starts with a chapter by Chow on the synthesis of dendritic oligoethers, which represent polypodands soluble in many solvents. Two contributions deal with dendrimers based on the "le- than-covalent" bond. While metal coordination as described in the review by Reinhoudt still employs rather strong bonds with bond energies close to co- lent bonds, Zimmerman's overview comprises dendrimers that self-assemble via weak forces such as hydrogen bonding. Biologic activity is one of the major topics in Lindhorst's overview of glycodendrimers, which have become a useful tool for the study of carbohydrate-protein interactions and multivalency. The article by Hirsch on fullerenes containing dendrimers provides extensive inf- mation on their properties as new materials. Finally, function again is a major topic, when catalysis (van Koten) is achieved using dendrimers Dendrimers are a class of highly branched molecules that combine the properties of polymers as well as small discrete molecules. One classified among the exotic molecules of chemistry, dendrimers have attracted considerable attention in recent years, as their unique host/guest properties and their capability of being functionalized in the periphery as well in the core have led to new materials with a great potential for applications. This volume presents the state of art in this blossoming research area, written by pioneers in the fields. Covering the synthetic, supramolecular, stereochemical, host/guest and polymer chemistry of dendritic and hyperbranched molecules, this volume explains both theoretical and practical aspects, including chirality reactivity, mechanism, material properties and biological relevance. It is the most comprehensive and authoritative review of the area available Dendritic Oligoethers....Pages 1-50 Dendrimers with Carbon Rich-Cores....Pages 51-93 Supramolecular Chemistry of Dendrimers....Pages 95-120 Non-Covalent Synthesis of Metallodendrimers....Pages 121-162 Dendritic Catalysts....Pages 163-199 Glycodendrimers....Pages 201-238