Synthesis and characterization of monodendrons based on 9-phenylcarbazole

A series of 9-phenylcarbazole ethynylene monodenrons have been prepared by palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions creating well-organized arrays of redox centers. The tert-butyl groups attached to the 3,6-positions of peripheral 9-phenylcarbazole monomers provide adequate solubility to a limited degree. Trimer and 7-mer monodendrons were prepared using a monomer with 3,3-diethyltriazene at its focal point. To facilitate purification, the synthesis of 15-mer monodendron, however, required a monomer bearing a 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-1-ynyl group at its focal point as a masking group for the terminal acetylene functionality. Although the solubility was limited, high generation monodendrons were found to be readily soluble in carbon disulfide, a solvent of high polarizability. Spectroscopic studies showed that there is limited through-bond conjugation over the monodendrons, but fluorescence studies suggested the presence of long-range through-space interactions in the higher members of the series.