Synthesis of pyrene end‐capped A6 dendrimer and star polymer with phosphazene core via “click chemistry”

Novel hexa‐armed and pyrene (Pyr) end‐capped phosphazene dendrimer [N3P3‐(Pyr)6] and star polymer with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) arms [N3P3‐(PCL‐Pyr)6] were prepared via two series of reactions. In these series, core‐first approach was used starting from a hexa‐hydroxy functional phosphazene derivative (N3P3‐(OH)6). It was used as an initiator in the ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone to prepare a hexa‐armed PCL star polymer (N3P3‐(PCL‐OH)6). Hydroxyl functionalities of N3P3‐(OH)6 and N3P3‐(PCL‐OH)6 were then successfully converted into bromide and azide, in turn. Further end‐group modifications of azide functional dendrimer precursor (N3P3‐(N3)6) and star polymer (N3P3‐(PCL‐N3)6) were achieved quantitatively via the Cu(I) catalyzed click reaction between azide functional groups and 1‐ethynyl pyrene in the final step. Moreover, the pyrene end‐capped phosphazene dendrimer and star polymer were used in noncovalent functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes.