Complex Adaptable Systems based on Self-Assembling Dendrimers and Dendrons: Toward Dynamic Materials

Self-assembling dendrons are biologically inspired complex systems that can form self-organized periodic arrays in the bulk state. Here we adopt the point of view of Constitutional Dynamic Chemistry (CDC) to discuss the design and properties of self-assembling dendrimers and dendronized structures. Among other objectives, CDC seeks to generate chemical diversity through constitutional dynamics, and to improve the design of dynamic materials using adaptive systems. Can we address these issues with dendrimer chemistry? We will show that generational and co-assembly approaches in the synthesis of self-assembling dendritic systems lead to a remarkable collection of periodic lattices and quasi-periodic arrays. Moreover, in some cases the morphological properties of the resulting supramolecular structures can be tuned by external signals. These dendron-based adaptive systems find applications in various fields such as nano-machines and switches or porous protein mimics.