Two in One: A Fréchet-Type Dendron Manifesting Conformational Duality

Herein, for the first time, is pointed out a case where two different conformers of a Fréchet-type dendron are present in the same crystal. The low energy difference between the m-di(methyleneoxy)benzene motifs of the two types of conformation, together with solid state intermolecular interactions, are discussed in order to rationalize this conformational duality. Conformational analysis is done on other reported Fréchet-type dendritic structures showing conformational duality or diversity. Complementary solution data are also discussed.