Iterative molecular assembly based on the cation-pool method. Convergent synthesis of dendritic molecules.

An iterative method for molecular assembly has been developed based on the cation-pool method using (trimethylsilyl)diphenylmethane as a building block. The silyl group works as both an activating group of the benzene ring in the Friedel-Crafts type reaction and an electroauxiliary in the subsequent low temperature anodic oxidation to generate dendritic diarylcarbenium ions, which were well characterized by low-temperature NMR spectroscopy. The convergent synthesis of dendritic molecules has been achieved by repeating the sequence.

Oxidative generation of diarylcarbenium ion pools.

"Cation pools" of diarylcarbenium ions have been generated by the oxidative C-H bond dissociation of diarylmethanes using anodic oxidation. "Diarylcarbenium ion pools" thus generated react with various nucleophiles, such as allylsilanes, ketene silyl acetals, and aromatic compounds. The reductive homocoupling of the "diarylcarbenium ion pool" has been achieved. The dimer thus obtained also serves as a precursor of the "diarylcarbenium ion pool" via oxidative C-C bond dissociation. [reaction: see text]