Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical behavior of viologen-functionalized poly(amidoamine) dendrimers

Abstract

Amineterminated, ethylenediamine core polyamidoamine starburst dendrimers of generation 2 (G2), generation 4 (G4) and generation 6 (G6) have been successfully surface-modified via an amide coupling reaction with 4-ethyl, 4′-(3-propionic) bipyridinium cation and the electrochemical behavior of the resulting dendrimers were investigated in aqueous potassium chloride electrolyte solutions. The 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide-mediated reaction resulted in 25-39% end-group functionalization. The water-soluble 4-ethyl, 4′-(3-propylamide) bipyridinium dibromide dendrimers (G2-V2+, G4-V2+ and G6-V2+) were characterized by 1H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods. The cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric experiments were performed to determine the diffusion coefficient and the number of electrons transferred in the process of the first reduction of the viologen-functionalized dendrimers. Adsorption of viologen-functionalized dendrimers at electrode surface was evidenced in the voltammograms. Experimentally determined diffusion coefficients were in good agreement with the values expected from the Stokes-Einstein relation, while the number of electrons transferred concurred with the extent of functionalization determined by 1H NMR and UV-Vis spectra.