Synthesis, electrochemistry, and interactions with beta-cydodextrin of dendrimers containing a single ferrocene subunit located "off-center"

Two series of dendrimers containing a single ferrocene unit located in the focal point of these macromolecules have been synthesized and characterized . The first series of dendrimers has considerable lipophilic character, wit h tert-butyl ester groups located in their peripheral regions. In contrast, the second series of dendrimers was obtained by the hydrolysis of these pe ripheral ester groups, yielding water-soluble dendrimers with carboxylic ac id groups in their surfaces. The electrochemical properties of these macrom olecules were strongly affected by the dendritic groups attached to the fer rocene subunits. Host-guest interactions between the water-soluble dendrime rs and the well-known receptor P-cyclodextrin were also investigated. The d endritic groups were found to hamper markedly the formation of inclusion co mplexes between the cyclodextrin receptor and the dendrimer's ferrocene uni t.