Bis(1,3-dihydroxy-isopropyl)amine (BDI) as an AB4 dendritic building block: rapid synthesis of a second generation dendrimer

Bis(1,3-dihydroxy-isopropyl)amine (BDI) 1, a symmetrical AB4 dendritic building block, is developed into two diamine linkers in which the nitrogen is more nucleophilic. The four primary alcohols in BDI undergo Michael reactions with t-butyl acrylate. Branch cells of this rare multiplicity allow the rapid construction of a second generation dendrimer 5 with 48 protected peripheral primary alcohol groups.