Synthesis and reactivity profiles of phosphinated poly(alkyl aryl ether) dendrimers

Poly(alkyl aryl ether) dendrimers were utilized to synthesize a series of new triphenylphosphine functionalized dendrimers. Zero, first, second and third generation dendrimers, carrying 3, 6, 12 and 24 triphenylphosphine units, were prepared and characterized. The new triphenylphosphine containing dendrimers were assessed for their reactivity profiles and in this instance, the dendrimers were used as reagents to mediate Mitsunobu etherification reaction between phenol and various primary, secondary and benzylic alcohols. In addition, dendritic poly-phenols were also tested in an O-benzylation reaction. A monomeric methoxy group attached triphenylphosphine acted as a control for comparison of reactivity profiles of dendrimers. It was observed that the etherification reaction was mediated efficiently by the dendritic reagent, and in addition, the dendritic phosphine oxide reagents could be recovered quantitatively by precipitation methods. The recovered dendritic phosphine oxides were reduced subsequently to the corresponding phosphines and used as reagents for the Mitsunobu reaction, repetitively. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.