Type III-B rotaxane dendrimersElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Characterization data and experimental procedures. See DOI: 10.1039/c3cc46759g

Type III-B first generation [3]rotaxane and second generation [4]rotaxane dendrimers have been synthesized via (1) a modified copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC), (2) Glaser-Hay's acetylenic oxidative homo-coupling, and (3) amide formation. The dendron does not reveal obvious cytotoxicities in L929 fibroblast cells. The rotaxane dendrimers can capture ammonia and are switchable both in solution and on surfaces. Novel type III-B rotaxane dendrimers have been synthesized which show molecular capturing and switching properties.