Rodrigue Djeda

Review: Mixed-valent metallodendrimers: design and functions

Various types of mixed-valent metallodendrimers and star-shaped macromolecules containing ferrocenyl, biferrocenyl, or other redox-robust iron groups with rigid or flexible tethers of short and long lengths mostly studied in the authors’ laboratory including the class type in terms of Robin-Day classification and their functions including electrode modification, sensing, and nanoparticle templates are discussed in this mini review. Graphical Abstract

Dendritic Molecular Nanobatteries and the Contribution of Click Chemistry

This article is a mini-review mostly based on the work of the authors’ laboratory on the redox chemistry of metallodendrimers and gold nanoparticles, with emphasis on “click” chemistry. Late transition-metal sandwich complexes possess a rather unique ability to withstand two or three oxidation states without breakdown, especially with permethylated π-cyclopentadienyl or arene ligands. When they are linked to dendritic cores, the assembled nano-systems undergo chemically and electrochemically reversible transfer of a large number of electrons (up to 14,000). These multiple redox processes are useful for nanodevices behaving as nanobatteries for redox sensing, modified electrode surfaces and redox catalysis. Click chemistry was recently disclosed as one of the most powerful means to form such assemblies including both arene-cored and gold nanoparticle-cored dendrimers.

Dentromers, a Family of Super Dendrimers with Specific Properties and Applications

Dentromers (from dentro, δεντρο: tree in Greek), and meros (μεροσ, in greek: part) are introduced as a family of dendrimers constructed according to successive divergent 1 → 3 branching. The smaller dentromers have 27 terminal branches. With alcohol termini they were originally named arborols by Newkome, who pioneered 1 → 3 constructions of dendrimers and dendrons. Giant dentromers have been constructed and decorated in particular with ferrocene and other redox active groups. The synthesis, specific properties, and applications are examined in this mini review article dedicated to Don Tomalia, with an emphasis on dense peripheral packing favoring the functions of encapsulation, redox sensing, and micellar template for catalysis in water and aqueous solvents.