Multiply functionalized dendrimers: protective-group-free synthesis through sequential thiolepoxy 'click' chemistry and esterification reaction

A modular synthetic strategy is described for the preparation of multiply functionalized dendrimers. In this strategy, thiol-epoxy 'click' chemistry is employed for installation of functional groups, and the hydroxyl group produced upon completion of this process is utilized for the growth of the dendritic scaffold through an esterification reaction. Due to the sequential nature of the two involved processes, the developed synthetic pathway remains free from the typical protection/deprotection requirements of dendrimer synthesis. Furthermore, the present strategy allows for placement of chemically different moieties at different dendritic layers.