Stepwise construction of a cross-shaped covalent assembly of dendrimers

A methodology for the stepwise construction of shape-persistent assemblies using snowflake-shaped dendrimers as the key modular building blocks was described. The Sonogashira coupling reaction of A(3)B-type Zn-porphyrin with A(4)-type free-base porphyrin afforded a cross-shaped covalent assembly. Intramolecular singlet energy transfer from peripheral Zn-porphyrin core to a free-base porphyrin core was observed. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.