Dendrimers in solution can have their remote catalytic groups folded back into the core: Enantioselective transaminations by dendritic enzyme mimics-II

PAMAM dendrimers with double thioether arms have been synthesized with a pyridoxamine core and terminal chiral amino groups. Transamination to afford natural isomers of phenylalanine and alanine induced enantioselectivity by the peripheral chiral caps, supporting a computer model that indicates folding of dendrimer chains back into the core.

Graphical abstractPAMAM dendrimers, which have double thioether arms, have been synthesized with a pyridoxamine core and chirally terminal amino groups. Transamination to afford natural isomers of phenylalanine and alanine induced enantioselectivity by the peripheral chiral caps, supporting a computer model that indicates folding of dendrimer chains back into the core.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide