Synthesis of Neutral Metallodendrimers Possessing Adamantane Termini: Supramolecular Assembly with β-Cyclodextrin

First and second generations of 1 → (2 + 1) C-branched metallodendrimers were prepared employing terpyridine−Ru II −terpyridine connectivity. Each surface dendron is comprised of a terpyridinyl (focal group), a diester (capable of easy hydrolysis), and a terminal adamantyl moiety (for encapsulation). Internal incorporation of counterbalancing carboxylate moieties derived by ester cleavage with formic acid and subsequent treatment of the intermediate diacid with base gave access to overall charge−neutral dendritic macromolecules. Aqueous solubility was effected by the supramolecular encapsulation of the terminal adamantane moieties with β-cyclodextrin, causing dissolution of the water-insoluble dendrimers ( 11 and 15 ) into an aqueous environment.