The Dotted Cap Notation: A concise notation for describing variegated dendrimers

There is a need for simple, concise systems of notation to describe aspects of dendrimer chemistry. In this paper, such a system of notation, which describes the surface functionalisation of the dendrimer, is presented. This notation, which complements existing dendrimer nomenclatures, conveys to the reader the number and relative arrangement of a dendrimer s caps. To reduce complexity, caps are represented by symbols defined by the user. Dendrimer topology is indicated, as is chirality at branch points. The notation is not a complete nomenclature; the chemical nature of the underlying dendritic framework is not specified. Comparison and contrast between dendrimers on the basis of their surfaces is simplified by the use of this notation.