Synthesis of Amphiphilic Iron-Sulfur Core Dendrimers and Investigations into Their Encapsulation Abilities in Different Solutions

Abstract

Several novel amphiphilic iron-sulfur core dendrimers were synthesized by modifying the tips of the dendrons to install hydrophilic peripheries. These dendrimers were synthesized via standard convergent and a 'modular' synthetic strategy. The electrochemistry of the dendrimers was investigated in dimethylformamide and dimethylformamide/water solutions. Positive shifts in the redox potential of the iron-sulfur cores corresponding to dendrimer size and periphery type were recorded. Secondary peaks in the anodic wave of cyclic voltammograms of dendrimers in dimethylformamide/water solutions were possible indications of limited access of water molecules to the iron-sulfur cores of some of the dendrimers.