Preparation and structural characterisation of terpy-cored dendrimers and dendriplexes

2,2`:6`,2``-Terpyridine (terpy) ligands and their iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes bearing first and second generation Frechet-type dendritic wedges have been prepared and structurally characterised. The rotational freedom within the dendritic wedge results in a great diversity in conformational space. Structural studies are reported on first generation species and their metal complexes, and the variety of inter- and intramolecular interactions which dominate the conformation of the dendrimer and the packing of the molecules (ions) in the lattice are discussed.