Fluorescent dendrimers and related branched polymers: synthetic strategies for peripheral modification with organic fluorophores

This review is devoted to our systematic investigations into the synthesis of fluorescent dendrimers within the broader context of developing functional dendrimer architectures. The main emphasis is placed on synthetic methods for the peripheral modification of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) and poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimers with organic fluorophores, enabling the creation of well-defined photoactive macromolecules with controlled structure and properties. In the presented studies, a series of fluorescent dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers functionalized with various chromophoric systems, such as 1,8-naphthalimide, benzanthrone, acridine, and nitrobenzofurazan, has been reported. The applied synthetic approaches provide precise control over the degree of functionalization and the distribution of photoactive groups at the dendrimer periphery. The main objective of this review is to highlight the synthetic methodologies and structure–property relationships that determine the potential of fluorescent dendrimers as platforms for developing new functional materials with biological and sensing properties. First examples of fluorescent hyperbranched polymers are also included, allowing a direct comparison between strictly defined dendrimer architectures and statistically branched macromolecular systems. Water-soluble fluorescent dendrimers are briefly discussed as an extension of the synthetic strategies applied. Application-oriented aspects of fluorescent dendrimers are outlined.