Catalysis Inside Dendrimers

Modern methods that involve intradendritic catalysis are introduced in this feature article. Supramolecular principles, therefore, derive from the concept of the unimolecular dendritic micelle introduced by Newkome. When the micellar effect is combined with intradendritic ligand acceleration, copper(I) catalysts or palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) are required at the ppm level for efficient reactions. Applications range from organic catalysis to catalysis by metal complexes of intradendritic ligands and dendrimer-stabilized nanoparticles (NPs) that are located at the dendrimer core or between the dendrimer tethers. Bimetallic nanoparticle-cored dendrimers including superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are especially promising due to very facile magnetic separation. 1 Introduction 2 Supramolecular and Organic Catalysis inside Dendrimers 3 Micellar Dendritic Catalysis: Olefin Metathesis and Click ­Reactions 3.1 Olefin Metathesis 3.2 Click Chemistry 4 Combined Micellar Dendritic Effect and Intradendritic Ligand ­Acceleration 5 Efficient Click Catalysis at the Dendrimer Core 6 Dendrimer-Encapsulated and Dendrimer-Stabilized Nanoparticle Catalysts 7 Catalysis by Nanoparticle-Cored Dendrimers 8 Concluding Remarks