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Supramolecular Solubilisation of Hydrophilic Dyes by Using Individual Dendritic Branches
Author(s) -
Dykes Graham M.,
Brierley Lisa J.,
Smith David K.,
McGrail P. Terry,
Seeley Gordon J.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/1521-3765(20011105)7:21<4730::aid-chem4730>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - supramolecular chemistry , chemistry , branching (polymer chemistry) , dendrimer , amine gas treating , aqueous solution , dendritic cell , chemical engineering , molecule , organic chemistry , biology , antigen , engineering , genetics
Individual dendritic branches can solubilise hydrophilic dyes in apolar media. The functional group at the focal point of the dendritic branch plays a key role in the dye uptake process. Supramolecular interactions between carboxylic acid and amine groups have been shown to be effective in enabling efficient solubilisation to occur. The necessary complementarity of this interaction is further illustrated by a series of control experiments. The extent of dendritic branching (i.e. dendritic generation) plays a key role in controlling the extent of dye uptake, with higher‐generation dendritic branches exhibiting more efficient uptake at lower concentrations. UV/Visible spectroscopic methods have shown that the dendritic branches, in addition to the tuning of the extent of dye uptake, also tune the optical properties of the solubilised dye and this provides further insight into the interactions occurring between the solubilised dye and the individual dendritic branches. Furthermore, it is shown that suitably functionalised dendritic branches can transport hydrophilic dyes through an apolar phase and deliver them continuously into an aqueous medium.