P-41 Rapid and Versatile One-flask Synthesis of Dendrimer Cores

The objective of this project is the development of a rapid, one-flask synthesis of dendrimer cores. Dendrimers are highly-branched molecules with a central core. We sought to use sequential Knoevenagel condensation and amine conjugation addition reactions as a general new synthetic approach to dendrimer cores. The component reactants in this strategy are chosen so that they would provide the requisite functionalities to create the core and build upon the core. To develop this approach, so far, we have used dimethyl malonate, Meldrum’s acid as Knoevenagel donors; 4-chlorobenzaldehyde and 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde as Knoevenagel acceptors; butylamine as the conjugate addition nucleophile; and catalysts ranging from calcium bases to enzymes and fruit purees