Synthesis and catalytic application of glycodendrimers decorated with gold nanoparticles – reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Gold nanoparticle decorated glycodendrimers 1, 2, 3 and 4 were synthesized using a click chemistry approach. Gold nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in good yields either by stabilization or encapsulation of the triazolyl glycodendrimers. Gold nanoparticles were stabilized (DSNPs) by the zeroth generation dendrimer and encapsulated (DENPs) by the first generation glycodendrimer. The Au–DSNPs and Au–DENPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) which shows that Au–DSNPs and Au–DENPs have an average of diameter 7.2 nm and 4.0 nm, respectively. The catalytic activity of Au–DSNPs for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) with NaBH4 in aqueous conditions was examined using UV-Vis spectroscopy.