The convergent route to globular dendritic macromolecules: A versatile approach to precisely functionalized three-dimensional polymers and novel block copolymers

The convergent growth approach to dendritic macromolecules is a versatile method for the preparation of globular molecules with highly controlled three-dimensional architectures. The method, inspired from a classical organic disconnection approach, starts growth of the globular dendrimer at what will become its chain-ends and proceeds toward what will become its center. The convergent growth has been applied to the preparation of a number of unconventional dendritic block copolymers as well as hybrid globular-linear copolymers that are not readily accessed by other routes. Control of the chemistry and the precise location of the chain-ends in convergent dendrimers is essential for the preparation of micellar, amphiphilic, dipolar, or other structures that may be useful in applications as varied as drug delivery and molecular devices.