Properties of phosphorus dendrimers decorated with heterocycles

Phosphorus dendrimers are highly branched, monodisperse macromolecules built around a phosphorus core, and having phosphorus atoms at all branching points. Their modular architecture allows for precise control over size, shape, and surface functionality. When functionalized at the surface with heterocycles—organic rings containing one or more heteroatoms (e.g., nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur)—these dendrimers gain catalytic activity, in the materials or biological fields. This review is organized according to the type of heterocycles (including N, O, S, or combined heteroatoms) linked to the surface of phosphorus dendrimers and emphasizes their properties.