An adventure in macromolecular chemistry based on the achievements of dendrimer science: molecular design, synthesis, and some basic properties of cyclic porphyrin oligomers to create a functional nano-sized space

Abstract

This review is dedicated to Emeritus Professor Soichi Misumi on his 77(th) birthday (NB the 77(th) birthday in Japan has special significance since the Chinese character for "77" resemble those for "happy").Dendrimer chemistry has taught us that these molecules create a nano-sized closed space that, presumably, is the origin of the specific physical properties of this class of materials. As the next stage of dendrimer chemistry, a macromolecule capable of creating such a space inside its molecule is proposed. To create the nano-sized space, porphyrin is considered to be the best candidate for the component molecules, because it has versatile properties associated with its expanded π-electron system and the incorporated metal. The resultant multi-detectable properties of porphyrin, that is, a number of its properties are detectable by many physical methods, may reveal the function of the nanometer-sized space.