Fluorescent phosphorus dendrimers excited by two photons: synthesis, two-photon absorption properties and biological uses.

Different types of two-photon absorbing (TPA) fluorophores have been synthesized and specifically functionalized to be incorporated in the structure of phosphorus dendrimers (highly branched macromolecules). The TPA fluorophores were included in the periphery as terminal functions, in the core, or in the branches of the dendrimer structures, respectively. Also the functionalization in two compartments (core and surface, or branches and surface) was achieved. The consequences of the location of the fluorophores on the fluorescence and TPA properties have been studied. Several of these TPA fluorescent dendrimers have water-solubilizing functions as terminal groups, and fluorophores at the core or in the branches. They have been used as fluorescent tools in biology for different purposes, such as tracers for imaging blood vessels of living animals, for determining the phenotype of cells, for deciphering the mechanism of action of anticancer compounds, and for safer photodynamic therapy.

Fluorescent Phosphorus Dendrimers: Towards Material and Biological Applications.

Fluorescent derivatives of phosphorhydrazone dendrimers are reviewed. Diverse types of fluorophores have been used, such as pyrene, naphthol, anthracene, dansyl, diketone, phthalocyanine, maleimide, julolidine, rhodamine, fluorescein, or fluorene derivatives. The fluorescent groups can be located either as terminal groups on the surface, at the core, linked to the core (off-center), or to the branches of the dendritic structure. After fundamental research on their synthesis, these compounds have been used in the fields of catalysis, nanomaterials, OLEDs, sensors and biology/nanomedicine, in particular for monitoring transfection, or for their anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer properties.

The specific functionalization of cyclotriphosphazene for the synthesis of smart dendrimers.

Hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene is an old compound which affords very new properties in the field of dendrimers. Indeed, it can be used as a branching point for the rapid synthesis of highly dense dendrimers, but also for the synthesis of dendrimers having precisely one function different from all the others. These types of dendrimers are useful in the field of materials, affording highly reusable catalysts, chemical sensors, or supports for cell cultures. However, the most developed uses concern fluorescence. These dendrimers have been used for in vivo imaging, and for trying to elucidate biological mechanisms, in particular for anti-inflammatory dendrimers. This review will display important examples in the field.

HIV-antigens charged on phosphorus dendrimers as tools for tolerogenic dendritic cells-based immunotherapy.

AIMS: The objective was to study if cationic phosphorus dendrimers can be used as DC-based vaccine or adjuvant in anti-HIV-1 vaccine development when associated with HIV-1 derived peptides. MATERIALS & METHODS: The HIV derived peptides uptake in DC and the phenotype of iDC and mDC were studied using Flow Cytometry analysis. Migration of mDC was evaluated by an in vitro chemotaxis assay. Allogenic T-cells proliferative response induced by DC was studied using Flow Cytometry assays. Cytokines production was analysed by Diaclon DIAplex Th1/Th2/Inflammation kit. RESULTS: All phosphorus dendrimers showed the ability to deliver HIV-derived peptides in DC. The phosphorus dendrimers from second and third generations induced important changes in phenotype. Moreover, the treatment of mDC with the second generation dendrimer and derivated dendriplexes modified cellular migratory properties, altered their capacity to stimulate allogenic naïve T cells in vitro and impeded the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: The phosphorus dendrimers cannot be used as vaccines because they would not have the ability to induce an immune response. The cationic phosphorus dendrimers associated with HIV-derived peptides have the ability to deliver peptides as non-viral vectors. However, there are other potential therapeutic applications of these compounds, for instance as topical antiinflammatory agents, as compounds for allograft rejection or autoimmune diseases and as agents inducing specific tolerance with antigen-loaded DC against allergy reaction. Nevertheless, these applications need to be evaluated.

Hierarchically porous nanostructures through phosphonate-metal alkoxide condensation and growth using functionalized dendrimeric building blocks.

Controlled titanium alkoxide mineralization in the presence of phosphonated, dendrimeric nano-building blocks provides a new family of hierarchically porous dendrimer-bridged titanium dioxide materials.

Two-dimensional polymeric [Hg(4)(µ(2)-I)(6)I(2)(µ(2)-C(4)S(6))](n).

The title compound, poly[(µ(2)-2H,5H-1,3-dithiolo[4,5-d][1,3]di-thiole-2,5-dithione)hexa-µ(2)-iodido-diiodidotetra-mercury(II)], [Hg(4)I(8)(C(4)S(6))](n), represents the first example of a coordination polymer assembled by the α,α-C(4)S(6) dithione ligand. The Hg(II) ions are four-coordinated in a distorted tetra-hedral geometry, the coordination demand being satisfied either by four bridging iodide ligands or by three iodide ligands (one terminal and two bridging) and a thio-carbonyl S atom. Due to the bridging nature of the dithione ligand, the coordination polymer has a two-dimensional structure, built up of undulated layers parallel to (001). There is an inversion center at the mid-point of the central C=C double bond.

Synthesis of dye/fluorescent functionalized dendrons based on cyclotriphosphazene.

Functionalized phenols based on tyramine were synthesized in order to be selectively grafted on to hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene, affording a variety of functionalized dendrons of type AB(5). The B functions comprised fluorescent groups (dansyl) or dyes (dabsyl), whereas the A function was provided by either an aldehyde or an amine. The characterization of these dendrons is reported. An unexpected behaviour of a fluorescent and water-soluble dendron based on dansyl groups in mixtures of dioxane/water was observed.

Multicharged and/or water-soluble fluorescent dendrimers: properties and uses.

The fluorescence of water-soluble dendritic compounds can be due to the whole structure or to fluorophores used as core, as peripheral groups, or as branches. Highly sophisticated precisely defined structures with other functional groups usable for material or biological purposes have been synthesised, but many recent examples have shown that dendrimers can be used as versatile platforms for statistically linking various types of functional groups.

Synthesis and reactivity of silylated tetrathiafulvalenes.

Novel organosilylated tetrathiafulvalenes (TTFs) possessing Si-H or Si-Si bonds have been synthesised. The crystal structures of several derivatives have been determined by X-ray diffraction, including that of dimeric (Si2Me4)(TTF)2 (11) incorporating a diatomic SiMe2-SiMe2 linker. Cyclic voltammetry measurements in all cases show two oxidation waves. DFT calculations were performed to rationalize the absence of an electronic communication between the two TTF moieties of 11 through the disilanyl spacer. The reactivity of the Si-H bond has been exploited to prepare the dinuclear complex [{Ru(CO)4}2{mu-(Me2Si)4TTF}] (14), starting from Ru3(CO)12 and TTF(SiMe2H)4 (1). Treatment of 14 with 2 equiv. of PPh3 or dppm results in selective substitution of a CO ligand trans to a SiMe2 group to afford mer-[{Ru(PPh3)(CO)3}2{mu-(Me2Si)4TTF}] (13) and mer-[{Ru(CO)3}2(eta1-dppm){mu-(Me2Si)4TTF}] (16). Attempts to transform the Si-H bonds of some TTF(SiMe2H)n (n = 1, 2) into Si-O functions using stoichiometric amounts of water in the presence of tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) were unsuccessful. Quantitative cleavage of the C(TTF)-Si bond was observed instead of formation of TTF-based-siloxanes. Essays of catalytic bis-silylation of phenylacetylene with 11 and TTF(SiMe2-SiMe3) (9) in the presence of Pd(OAc)2/1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutylisocyanide failed. Again, cleavage of the C(TTF)-Si bond was noticed.

Syntheses, structures, and photophysical properties of mono- and dinuclear sulfur-rich gold(I) complexes.

The dinuclear gold complexes [{Au(PPh 3)} 2(mu- dmid)] ( 1) ( dmid = 1,3-dithiole-2-one-4,5-dithiolate) and [{Au(PPh 3)} 2(mu- dddt)] ( 2) ( dddt = 5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiine-2,3-dithiolate) were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Both complexes exhibit intramolecular aurophilic interactions with Au...Au distances of 3.1984(10) A for 1 and 3.1295(11) A for 2. A self-assembly reaction between 4,5-bis(2-hydroxyethylthio)-1,3-dithiole-2-thione ( (HOCH 2 CH 2 ) 2 dmit) and [AuCl(tht)] affords the complex [AuCl{ (HOCH 2 CH 2 ) 2 dmit}] 2 ( 4), which possesses an antiparallel dimeric arrangement resulting from a short aurophilic contact of 3.078(6) A. This motif is extended into two dimensions due to intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds via the hydroxyethyl groups, giving rise to a supramolecular network. Three compounds were investigated for their rich photophysical properties at 298 and 77 K in 2-MeTHF and in the solid state; [Au 2(mu- dmid)(PPh 3) 2] ( 1), [Au 2(mu- dddt)(PPh 3) 2] ( 2), and [AuCl{( HOCH 2 CH 2 ) 2 dmit}] ( 4). 1 exhibits relatively long-lived LMCT (ligand-to-metal charge transfer) emissions at 298 K in solution (370 nm; tau e approximately 17 ns, where M is a single gold not interacting with the other gold atom; i.e., the fluxional C-SAuPPh 3 units are away from each other) and in the solid state (410 nm; tau e approximately 70 mus). At 77 K, a new emission band is observed at 685 nm (tau e = 132 mus) and assigned to a LMCT emission where M is representative for two gold atoms interacting together consistent with the presence of Au...Au contacts as found in the crystal structure. In solution at 77 K, the LMCT emission is also red-shifted to 550 nm (tau e approximately 139 mus). It is believed to be associated to a given rotamer. 2 also exhibits LMCT emissions at 380 nm at 298 K in solution and at 470 nm in the solid state. 4 exhibits X/MLCT emission (halide/metal to ligand charge transfer) where M is a dimer in the solid state with obvious Au...Au interactions, resulting in red-shifted emission band, and is a monomer in solution in the 10 (-5) M concentration (i.e., no Au...Au interactions) resulting in blue-shifted luminescence. Both fluorescence and phosphorescence are observed for 4.

A new and convenient method for the synthesis of strong non-ionic bases.

Various strong non-ionic phosphazene bases were obtained by a new, efficient and very simple method involving the lithium phosphonium azayldiide Ph3P=NLi as a precursor.