Dendrimer
Dendrimers are highly ordered, branched polymeric molecules. Synonymous terms for dendrimer include arborols and cascade molecules. Typically, dendrimers are symmetric about the core, and often adopt a spherical three-dimensional morphology. The word dendron is also encountered frequently. A dendron usually contains a single chemically addressable group called the focal point or core. The difference between dendrons and dendrimers is illustrated in the top figure, but the terms are typically encountered interchangeably.
Dendrimer Substance composed of identical dendrimer molecules.
Dendrimer molecule
Molecule consisting of one or more dendrons emanating from a single constitutional unit.
Dendron
Part of a molecule with only one free valence, comprising exclusively dendritic and terminal constitutional repeating units and in which each path from the free valence to any end-group comprises the same number of constitutional repeating units. Note 1: For the purpose of determining the nature of constitutional repeating units the free valence is treated as a connection to a CRU. Note 2: A dendrimer molecule comprising only one dendron is sometimes referred to as dendron, monodendron or functionalised dendron. The use of the terms 'dendron' or 'monodendron' in the meaning of molecule or substance is not acceptable. Note 3: In a dendron, macrocycles of constitutional units are absent.
The first dendrimers were made by divergent synthesis approaches by Fritz Vögtle in 1978, R.G. Denkewalter at Allied Corporation in 1981, Donald Tomalia at Dow Chemical in 1983 and in 1985, and by George R. Newkome in 1985. In 1990 a convergent synthetic approach was introduced by Craig Hawker and Jean Fréchet. Dendrimer popularity then greatly increased, resulting in more than 5,000 scientific papers and patents by the year 2005.