Hydroxyl-terminated dendrimers with sulfonimide linkers as binders for metals of industrial significance.

First- and second-generation hydroxyl-terminated dendrimers were prepared starting from a 1,3-diaminopropane core and sulfonimide linkers. A first-generation mesitylene-derived dendrimer was also prepared with the same terminals. The dendrimers were then reacted with Fe(3+), Al(3+), and UO(2)(2+) separately in order to apply the dendrimers for binding these metals, which have important industrial applications and pose environmental problems simultaneously. The prepared dendrimers were also shown to bind Fe(3+) selectively from mixtures with Al(3+).