Photocatalytic disassembly of tertiary amine-based poly(propyl ether imine) dendrimers, in the presence of either 9,10-anthraquinone or riboflavin tetraacetate and O2(g), leads to di- and tripropanolamine monomers. An application is shown by solubilisation of a water-insoluble dye, Sudan I, in aq. dendrimer solution (‘catch’), followed by its ‘release’ upon disassembly of the dendrimer.
