Dendrimers as reactive modules for the synthesis of new structure-controlled,
higher-complexity megamers*
Donald A. Tomalia**, Srinivas Uppuluri, Douglas R. Swanson, and Jing
Li
Center for Biologic Nanotechnology, University of Michigan,
4027 Kresge Research Bldg. II, 200 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI
48109, USA
Abstract: Dendrimers are macromolecular, nanoscale objects that
are widely recognized as precise, mathematically defined, covalent core-shell
assemblies. As such, they are composed of quantized numbers of atoms,
monomers, and terminal functional groups relative to the respective
shell levels (generations) surrounding their cores. Dendrimers have
been referred to as molecular-level analogs of atoms. This perspective
arises from their potential to function as precise macromolecular tectons
(modules), suitable for the synthesis of structure-controlled complexity
beyond dendrimers. We have termed this major new class of generic structures
"megamers". Our group has now synthesized such "megamer
complexity" in the form of both covalent and supra-macromolecular
dendri-catenanes, dendri-macrocycles, dendri-clefts, and dendri-clusters.
The covalent dendri-cluster subset of megamers has been coined "core-shell
tecto(dendrimers)". New mathematically defined, covalent bonding
rules for tecto(dendrimer) formation are consistent with sterically
induced stoichiometry (SIS) predictions and have been verified experimentally.
*Plenary lecture presented at the 15th
International Conference on Physical Organic Chemistry (ICPOC 15), Göteborg,
Sweden, 8 13 July 2000. Other presentations are published in this
issue, pp. 2219 2358.
**Corresponding author
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