Dendrimers based on photoactive metal complexes. Recent advances

Recent advances in the field of photoactive dendrimers containing metal complexes are reviewed. Dendrimers with [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) as a core exhibit the characteristic [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) - type luminescence that can be (i) protected from external quenchers by the dendrimer branches and (ii) sensitized by chromophoric groups contained in the periphery of the dendrimer (antenna effect). Several examples of dendrimers fully based on transition metal complexes (i.e., containing a metal at each branching point of the dendrimer structure) have been investigated with the purpose of light harvesting. Dendrimers containing one or more free base and metal porphyrin units have been investigated for light harvesting and for a variety of other purposes. Scattered examples of other types of photoactive dendrimers are also reviewed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.