Synthesis, characterisation and properties of amino acid terminated dendrimer wedges

Abstract

The rising demand for speciality polymers that possess novel properties has led to an interest in the tailored synthesis of dendritic polymers having highly controlled molecular architectures. Control over size, shape, molecular weight and functionality at the periphery of the molecule was used to design a series of dendrimer wedges with the ultimate aim of enhanced binding of a functional, property modifying unit to a cotton surface in water. Poly (propyleneimine) dendrimer wedges with various foci were produced in a stepwise way via a repetitive reaction sequence using the divergent approach. Initially, long chain aliphatic amines were used as starting materials and optimisation of the reaction conditions produced wedges up to the third generation possessing eight primary amine end groups. Subsequently dendrimer wedges were synthesised from a siloxysilane core up to the second generation. End group modification with amino acid residues was performed at the periphery of the wedges and adsorption studies were carried out to ascertain if enhanced molecular recognition at a cotton surface occurred. Also an investigation of the modification of polar surfaces by amine terminated dendrimers with a siloxysilane unit at the focus was performed.