A water-soluble polyphosphorhydrazone Janus dendrimer built by “click” chemistry as support for Ru-complexes in catalysis

Abstract

The field of supported catalysis has experienced increased attention with respect to the development of novel architectures for immobilizing catalytic species, aiming to maintain or enhance their activity while facilitating the easy recovery and reuse of the active moiety. Dendrimers have been identified as promising candidates capable of imparting such properties to catalysts through selective functionalization. The present study details the synthesis of two polyphosphorhydrazone (PPH) dendrons, each incorporating azide or acetylene groups at the core for subsequent coupling through “click” triazole chemistry. Employing this methodology, a novel PPH Janus dendrimer was successfully synthesized, featuring ten polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains on one side of the structure and ten Ru(p-cymene) derivatives on the other. This design was intended to confer dual properties, influencing solubility modulation, and allowing the presence of active catalytic moieties. The synthesized dendrimer underwent testing in the isomerization of allyl alcohols in organic solvents and biphasic solvent mixtures. The results demonstrated a positive dendritic effect compared with model monometallic and bimetallic species, providing a proof-of-concept for the first PPH Janus dendrimer with tested applications in catalysis.