Benzylidene protected bis-MPA: A convenient dendrimer building block

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(98)00395-5

Benzylidene protected bis-MPA, 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propanoic acid, was synthesised and evaluated as building block in the construction of dendrimers. It was found that the anhydride of benzylidene protected bis-MPA reacts with neopentylic alcohols to give high yields of acylated products. Purification is facilitated by the crystalline nature of most ester products. Deprotection by hydrogenolysis gives polyol dendrimers in good yields.