Written by internationally acclaimed authors, this textbook contains everything you need to know about this versatile class of compounds. Starting with a historical overview, definitions and other fundamentals, it goes on to look at characterization, analysis and properties of dendrimers. While the focus is on synthesis and applications, it also contains chapters on analytics and other applications. Essential reading for organic and polymer chemists, undergraduate and graduate students, students and lecturers in chemistry.

Born in Ehingen, Germany, in 1939, Fritz Vogtle studied chemistry in Freiburg as well as chemistry and medicine in Heidelberg, where he received his PhD under Professor Hein A. Staab in 1965 on the valence isomerization of double Schiff bases. After gaining his lecturing qualification he was a professor in Wurzburg from 1969 to 1975, before accepting a position as full professor and director of the Kekule-Institut for Organische Chemie und Biochemie in Bonn. He was awarded a literature prize by the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie, the LIse Meitner-Alexander von Humboldt Award, the Izatt-Bradshaw-Christensen Award for Macrocyclic Chemistry and the Adolf von Baeyer medal of the German Chemical Society, as well as an honorary doctorate from the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland. He has authored or co-authored several books and numerous scientific papers. Professor Vogtle's research interests include supramolecular and nano chemistry, dendrimers, cyclophanes, low molecular weight gelators and intertwined molecular architectures. Gabriele Richardt studied chemistry at Bonn, where she was awarded her PhD under Professor H. Wamhoff in the field of nucleosides. In 2002 she began working in Professor Vogtle's group, before transferring to the polymer group headed by Professor S. Hoger in 2007. Nicole Werner studied chemistry and biology at Bonn, receiving her PhD in 2004 under Professor F. Vogtle for her work in the dendrimer field. She has been teaching chemistry and physics at German grammar schools since 2006.

INTRODUCTION Historical - Cascade Molecules and Dendrimers Dendritic Architectures Perfection, Defects, Dispersity Definition and Classification of Dendritic Molecules Nomenclature of Dendritic Molecules SYNTHETIC METHODS FOR DENDRITIC MOLECULES Divergent Synthesis Convergent Synthesis Recent Synthetic Methods Solid Phase Synthesis Coordination-Chemical Synthesis Supramolecular Synthesis Hyperbranched Polymers Dendronised Linear Polymers Dendro-Isomers FUNCTIONAL DENDRIMERS Monofunctional Dendrimers Multifunctional Dendrimers TYPES OF DENDRIMERS AND THEIR SYNTHESES Achiral Dendrimers Chiral Dendrimers PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF DENDRITIC MOLECULES Luminescence and Energy Transfer Antenna Effect and Photoisomerisation of Dendrimers (SPECIAL) CHEMICAL REACTIONS OF DENDRITIC MOLECULES Covalent Chemical Reactions Supramolecular (Host/Guest) Interactions Dendritic Effects CHARACTERISATION AND ANALYSIS Chromatography Gel Electrophoresis NMR Spectroscopy Mass Spectroscopy X-Ray Crystal Structure Analysis Small-Angle Scattering Scanning Probe Microscopy Transmission Electron Microscopy Chiroptical Methods SPECIAL PROPERTIES AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS Introduction Catalysis, Membrane Technology Pigments, Adhesives, Additives in Chemical Materials Dendrimers for Displays and (Opto)Electronics Biomimetics, Sensor Technology, Diagnostics (Fluorescence) Dendrimers in Medical Diagnostics Medical Applications Dendrimers in Nanotechnology