Self-assembled dendrimers with uniform structure

Abstract

Calix[4]arenes substituted at their wide rim by four aryl urea residues (1) form hydrogen-bonded dimers in apolar solvents. Replacement of one urea residue by an acetamido moiety leads to calix[4]arene derivatives (5) which form hydrogen-bonded tetramers under the same conditions. Both self-assembly processes occur independently. Therefore, molecules have been prepared in which a tetra-urea calix[4]arene and a tri-urea mono acetamide derivative are covalently connected between their narrow rims by a long, mainly aliphatic chain [-O-(CH₂)_n-C(O)-NH-(CH₂)_m-O-] (7). In the presence of an equimolar amount of tetra-tosyl urea calix[4]arene (2) they form dendritic assemblies since the well known heterodimerization of tetra-tosyl and tetra-aryl urea calix[4]arenes prevents the formation of a cross-linked structure. Covalent connection of adjacent urea residues leads to tetra-loop derivatives (3) that cannot form homodimers, but instead form heterodimers with tetra-aryl or tetra-tosylureas. Therefore, similar dendrimers should be available using the selective dimerization observed for 3. The formation of a single, structurally uniform dendrimer from eight building blocks is confirmed by ¹H NMR spectra, showing only peaks that are also found for respective model assemblies. Translational diffusion coefficients of the assemblies have been determined using ¹H DOSY NMR.