Cobaltocenium-functionalized poly(propylene imine) dendrimers: redox and electromicrogravimetric studies and AFM imaging

Metallo-polyelectrolytes as a class of ionic macromolecules for functional materials

The fields of soft polymers and macromolecular sciences have enjoyed a unique combination of metals and organic frameworks in the name of metallopolymers or organometallic polymers. When metallopolymers carry charged groups, they form a class of metal-containing polyelectrolytes or metallo-polyelectrolytes. This review identifies the unique properties and functions of metallo-polyelectrolytes compared with conventional organo-polyelectrolytes, in the hope of shedding light on the formation of functional materials with intriguing applications and potential benefits. It concludes with a critical perspective on the challenges and hurdles for metallo-polyelectrolytes, especially experimental quantitative analysis and theoretical modeling of ionic binding.

Binding of Cobaltocenium-containing Polyelectrolytes with Anionic Probes

Cationic cobaltocenium-containing polyelectrolytes have a unique ability to form ionic complex with various anionic species. We carried out two sets of model study to compare the relative binding strength of a cobaltocenium-containing polyelectrolyte. First, the nature and relative strength of intermolecular interaction between cobaltocenium-containing polyelectrolytes and different anionic probes were investigated by spectroscopic methods. A dye-displacement method was used to monitor absorbance and fluorescence emissions. Second, the binding strength of this cobaltocenium-containing polyelectrolyte was compared with a classical quaternary ammonium polymer. Formation of polyelectrolyte complex between the cobaltocenium-containing polyelectrolyte and a common anionic polyelectrolyte at various concentrations was examined by optical absorption and light scattering.

Metalation of polyamine dendrimers with ethynylcobalticenium for the construction of mono- and heterobimetallic polycationic metallodendrimers

The introduction of robust redox groups at the periphery of common amine-terminated dendrimers is of interest in the design of dendritic nanobatteries, sensors, and redox catalysts. Here we are applying the recently discovered uncatalyzed hydroamination of ethynylcobalticenium, a mild "green" reaction that quantitatively yields trans-enamines without the formation of any byproduct, to functionalize dendrimers that are terminated with primary or secondary amino groups. Poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers terminated by primary amino groups and arene-centered dendrimers terminated by secondary amino groups yield dendrimers that contain up to 81 trans-enamine-cobalticenium termini using this reaction. The hydroamination reaction was also conducted with dendrimers that contained ferrocenylmethylamino groups, which yielded dendrimers that contained both ferrocenyl and cobalticenium termini. The size of the dendrimers was investigated using both dynamic light scattering and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and the number of electrons involved in heterogeneous multielectron transfers at electrodes was searched by cyclic voltammetry. The latter works well up to the 27-branch dendrimer, whereas the 81-dendrimer yielded a result in an excess amount (110 electrons) owing to adsorption onto the cathode that becomes all the more significant as the metallodendrimer size increases.

Organometallic electrodes: modification of electrode surfaces through cathodic reduction of cyclopentadienyldiazonium complexes of cobalt and manganese

Two organometallic complexes having cyclopentadienyldiazonium ligands have been isolated and characterized by spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and electrochemistry. Both CoCp(η(5)-C(5)H(4)N(2))(2+) (2(2+)) and Mn(CO)(3)(η(5)-C(5)H(4)N(2))(+) (3(+)) undergo facile cyclopentadienyldiazonium ligand-based one-electron reductions which liberate dinitrogen and result in strong binding of the cyclopentadienyl ligand to a glassy carbon surface, similar to the processes well established for organic aryldiazonium salts. The organometallic-modified electrodes are robust and have a thickness of approximately one monolayer (Γ = (2-4) × 10(-10) mol cm(-2)). Their voltammetric responses are as expected for a cobaltocenium-modified electrode, [CoCp(η(5)-C(5)H(4)-E)](+), where Cp = cyclopentadienyl and E = electrode, and a "cymantrene"-modified electrode Mn(CO)(3)(η(5)-C(5)H(4)-E). The cobaltocenium electrode has two cathodic surface waves. The first (E(1/2) = -1.34 V vs ferrocene) is highly reversible, whereas the second (E(pc) = -2.4 V) is not, consistent with the known behavior of cobaltocenium. The cymantrene-substituted electrode has a partially chemically reversible anodic wave at E(1/2) = 0.96 V, also consistent with the behavior of its Mn(CO)(3)Cp parent. Many of the properties of aryl-modified electrodes, such as "blockage" of the voltammetric responses of test analytes, are also seen for the organometallic-modified electrodes. Surface-based substitution of a carbonyl group by a phosphite ligand, P(OR)(3), R = Ph or Me, was observed when the cymantrene-modified electrode was anodically oxidized in the presence of a phosphite ligand. The successful grafting of organometallic moieties by direct bonding of a cyclopentadienyl ligand to electrode surfaces expands the chemical and electrochemical dimensions of diazonium-based modified electrodes.

Bienzyme sensors based on novel polymethylferrocenyl dendrimers

Amperometric bienzyme electrodes with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and glucose oxidase (GOx) co-immobilized on polymethylferrocenyl dendrimers deposited onto platinum electrodes have been used for determination of the hydrogen peroxide produced by the oxidase during the enzymatic reaction. The redox dendrimers consist of flexible poly(propylenimine) dendrimer cores functionalised with octamethylferrocenyl units. The effects of dendrimer generation, the thickness of the dendrimer layer, substrate concentration, interferences, and reproducibility on the response of the sensors were investigated. The new bienzyme biosensors respond to substrate at work potential values between 200 and 50 mV (vs. SCE), have good sensitivity, and are resistant to interferences. Figure.

Electrochemical and Guest Binding Properties of Fréchet- and Newkome-Type Dendrimers with a Single Viologen Unit Located at Their Apical Positions

Several new series of dendrimers containing a single redox-active 4,4'-bipyridinium (viologen) residue were synthesized and characterized. In these dendrimers, the viologen group is covalently attached to the apical position of a Newkome- or Frechet-type dendron, ranging in size from first to third generation of growth. The half-wave potentials corresponding to the two consecutive one-electron reductions of the viologen residue are affected by the size of the dendritic component. The size effects are more pronounced in the Newkome-type dendrimers and seem to result from the polarity contrast between the microenvironments provided by the solution and the internal phase of the dendrimer. Unlike in many other dendrimers having a redox-active core, the voltammetric behavior remains fast (reversible) even in third generation dendrimers. Pulse gradient stimulated echo NMR diffusion coefficient measurements on the Newkome-type dendrimers reveal that their hydrodynamic radii are relatively invariant in solvents of widely different polarities (dichloromethane to dimethyl sulfoxide). The host-guest binding interactions between the viologen residue in these dendrimers and the crown ether host bis-p-phenylene-34-crown-8 were also investigated. While in Newkome-type dendrimers the growth of the dendron caused a substantial attenuation of the binding constant values, this size effect was not observed in the Frechet-type dendrimers. These electrochemical and binding measurements underscore some of the structural differences between these two common types of dendritic architectures.

Amperometric enzyme electrodes for aerobic and anaerobic glucose monitoring prepared by glucose oxidase immobilized in mixed ferrocene–cobaltocenium dendrimers

The enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) has been immobilized electrostatically onto carbon and platinum electrodes modified with mixed ferrocene-cobaltocenium dendrimers. The ferrocene units have been used successfully as mediators between the GOx and the electrode under anaerobic conditions. In experiments carried out in the presence of oxygen, the cobaltocenium moieties act as electrocatalysts in the reduction of the oxygen in the solution, thus making possible the determination of the oxygen variation due to the enzymatic reaction, with high sensitivity. The current response of the electrode was determined by measuring steady-state current values obtained applying a constant potential. The effect of the substrate concentration, the dendrimer generation, the thickness of the dendrimer layer, interferences, and storage on the response of the sensors were investigated.