Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.118, No.24, 5708-5711, 1996
Dendrimer-Metalloporphyrins - Synthesis and Catalysis
A new class of sterically hindered dendrimer-metalloporphyrins was synthesized for use as shape-selective oxidation catalysts. A series of oxidatively robust poly(phenylesters) dendrimers were prepared through a convergent synthesis. Monodendrons were appended to the meta-positions of the 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3’,5’-hydroxyphenyl) porphinatomanganese(III) chloride to obtain a sterically protected metal center. These complexes have been examined as regioselective oxidation catalysts for both intra- and intermolecular cases. Epoxidation of nonconjugated dienes and alkene mixtures of 1-alkene and cyclooctene catalyzed by dendrimer-metalloporphyrins has been carried out using iodosylbenzene as the oxygen donor. Significantly greater regioselectivity is observed with the dendrimer-metalloporphyrins, relative to the corresponding parent, 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinatomanganes cation. To examine the extent of steric crowding around the porphyrin from the dendrimers, molecular modeling studies were performed on these dendrimer-porphyrins. Although the top access is extremely limited in the dendrimer-metalloporphyrins, a significant side opening permits substrate entrance and limits the regioselectivity that can be achieved with meta-substitution of a tetraphenylporphyrin.