Combined CuI-catalysed alkyne–azidecycloaddition and furan–maleimide Diels–Alder “click” chemistry approach to thermoresponsive dendrimers

A divergent dendrimer construction methodology that employs Cu(I)-catalysed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) and furan-maleimide Diels-Alder (DA) "click" chemistry in a layer-by-layer fashion, is described. This synergistic approach yields dendrimers that undergo thermal disassembly via a retro-DA reaction.