Cationic and fluorescent "Janus" dendrimers.

Two synthetic routes to "Janus"-type dendrimers possessing ammonium groups on one side and fluorescent dansyl derivatives on the other side are described. These surface-block dendrimers are obtained by the coupling of two different dendrons, built from the hexafunctional cyclotriphosphazene core. Their characterization and their photophysical behavior are reported. The largest compound possesses 10 ammonium groups and 5 dansyl groups; it is potentially useful as a fluorescent label in materials science and biology.