title: A dendritic active site: catalysis of the Henry reaction.
abstract: [reaction: see text] Dendrimers containing an encapsulated tertiary amine were prepared by coupling tris(2-aminoethyl)amine with dendritic branches derived from L-lysine. These dendrimers were used as catalysts in the Henry (nitroaldol) reaction between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and nitroethane, and their catalytic performance was compared with that of triethylamine. Attachment of the dendritic shell alters the rate of reaction and influences the syn:anti ratio of products. It is proposed that the dendritic shell generates an encapsulated catalytically active site, mimicking the behavior of a protein superstructure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Driffield
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Smith