Synthesis and Core and Surface Reactivity of Phosphorus-Based Dendrons

First-in-Class Phosphorus Dendritic Framework, a Wide Surface Functional Group Palette Bringing Noteworthy Anti-Cancer and Anti-Tuberculosis Activities: What Lessons to Learn?

Based on phenotypic screening, the major advantages of phosphorus dendrimers and dendrons as drugs allowed the discovery of new therapeutic applications, for instance, as anti-cancer and anti-tuberculosis agents. These biological activities depend on the nature of the chemical groups (neutral or cationic) on their surface as well as their generation. As lessons to learn, in the oncology domain, the increase in the generation of metallo-dendrimers is in the same direction as the anti-proliferative activities, in contrast to the development of polycationic dendrimers, where the most potent anti-tuberculosis phosphorus dendrimer was observed to have the lowest generation (G0). The examples presented in this original analysis of phosphorus dendrimers and dendrons provide support for the lessons learned and for the development of new nanoparticles in nanomedicine.

Bifunctional Phosphorus Dendrimers and Their Properties

Dendrimers are hyperbranched and monodisperse macromolecules, generally considered as a special class of polymers, but synthesized step-by-step. Most dendrimers have a uniform structure, with a single type of terminal function. However, it is often desirable to have at least two different functional groups. This review will discuss the case of bifunctional phosphorus-containing dendrimers, and the consequences for their properties. Besides the terminal functions, dendritic structures may have also a function at the core, or linked off-center to the core, or at the core of dendrons (dendritic wedges). Association of two dendrons having different terminal functions leads to Janus dendrimers (two faces). The internal structure can also possess functional groups on one layer, or linked to one layer, or on several layers. Finally, there are several ways to have two types of terminal functions, besides the case of Janus dendrimers: either each terminal function bears two functions sequentially, or two different functions are linked to each terminal branching point. Examples of each type of structure will be given in this review, as well as practical uses of such sophisticated structures in the fields of fluorescence, catalysis, nanomaterials and biology.

Silver(i) complexes of N-thiophosphorylated bis(iminophosphorane) ligands: From monomers to polymers

Treatment of diphosphines Ph(2)P(CH2)nPPh2 (n = 1, 2, 4, 6) and [Fe(eta5-C(5)H(4)PR'2)2] (R' = Ph, (i)Pr) with a two-fold excess of (RO)2P(=S)N3 (R = Et, Ph) results in the high-yield formation of the N-thiophosphorylated bis(iminophosphorane) derivatives (CH2)n[P{=NP(=S)(OR)2}Ph2]2 and Fe(eta5-C(5)H(4)[P{=NP(=S)(OR)2}R'2])2, respectively. The reactions of these ligands with AgSbF(6) in a 1 : 1 molar ratio have been investigated. The resulting silver(I) complexes, derived from the selective coordination of the P=S units, have been characterized by IR, NMR and MS (FAB) spectroscopy and, in selected cases, by X-ray crystallography. Monomeric, dimeric and polymeric solid-state structures, depending on the nature of the ligand backbone, have been found.

Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Conifer-Shaped Dendritic Architectures

An elongated structural design leading to more conical-shaped dendritic architectures by using a combination of 1-->3, 1-->(2+1), and 1-->(2+1 Me) C-branched monomers is presented. Synthesis of the conifer-shaped macromolecule was achieved by reaction between isocyanate 20 and amine 26 in dry CH2Cl2. A resultant extended focal adamantane-modified dendron was deprotected to generate the water-soluble product, which was subsequently complexed with beta-cyclodextrin in D2O to create the desired tree-like product. Host-guest interactions of the adamantane moiety with the beta-cyclodextrin cavity were monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. All monomers, key intermediates, and final products were fully characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, ESI or MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and IR spectroscopy.