A protecting-deprotecting strategy for structuring robust functional films using aryldiazonium electroreduction

Synthetic Insights into Surface Functionalization of Si(111)-R Photoelectrodes: Steric Control and Deprotection of Molecular Passivating Layers

We report the utility of controlled spacing of molecular monolayers on Si(111) surfaces by the use of sterically bulky silanes. The steric bulk of a 3,5-diphenolic linker of type Ph-diO-SiR₃ (R = hexyl, phenyl, ⁱPr)-as well as the smaller Ph-diOMe-is shown to control the surface coverage on Si(111). The para substituent was also changed from -F (small) to -OTf (triflate, large) to modulate the conformation of a selected bulky silane (SiR₃; R = hexyl) to further control the steric environment of the monolayer. The surface coverage values are found to vary systematically from 57 → 21 → 15 → 11% for the series CH₃ → hexyl → ⁱPr → phenyl. Substitution at the para position (F → OTf) decreased the packing density for R = hexyl to as low as 8% (from 21%). The molecular coverage was also found to control the rate and extent of surface oxidation when unfunctionalized sites were allowed to oxidize. Following attachment, facile deprotection of the silanes was achieved by treatment with BBr₃ to afford the diphenolic -OH groups. To electronically characterize the monolayers, voltammetry was performed in contact with liquid Hg to determine the barrier height, which was decreased by 70 mV as the coverage is increased. This study provides a synthetic rationale for controlling the packing density of surface linkers using electroless chemistry at semiconductor interfaces, thus providing further tunability and functionality of photoelectrochemical devices.

Multifunctional and Stable Monolayers on Carbon: A Simple and Reliable Method for Backfilling Sparse Layers Grafted from Protected Aryldiazonium Ions

A new strategy for preparation of robust multifunctional low nanometer thickness monolayers on carbon substrates is presented. Beginning with protected aryldiazonium salts, sparse monolayers of ethynyl-, amino-, and carboxy-terminated tethers are covalently anchored to the surface. The layers are then backfilled with a second modifier via the nucleophilic addition of an amine derivative to the surface. Through use of electroactive moieties coupled to the tethers, and an electroactive amine for backfilling, electrochemical measurements reveal that backfilling approximately doubles the surface concentration of the monolayer. Cyclic voltammetry of solution-based redox probes at the modified surfaces is consistent with the expected blocking properties at various stages of surface preparation. Fractional surface coverages of the layers are estimated using electrochemically determined surface concentrations of modifiers and computationally derived modifier footprints. Assuming free rotation of the coupled ferrocenyl or nitrophenyl groups leads to physically unreasonable fractional surface coverages, indicating that these larger modifiers must be rotationally restricted. Using a conformationally constrained model produces lower bound estimates of the total fractional surface coverage close to 0.4, with tether-only coverages close to 0.2. The backfilled tether layers constitute practical platforms for controlled construction of complex interfaces with many potential applications including sensing, molecular electronics, and catalysis.

Sterically controlled functionalization of carbon surfaces with -C6H4CH2X (X = OSO2Me or N3) groups for surface attachment of redox-active molecules

Glassy carbon electrodes were modified by electrochemical reduction of a diazonium molecule ((i)Pr3SiOCH2C6H4N2(+)BF4(-)) featuring a triisopropylsilyl-protected benzylic hydroxyl group. This electrochemical process introduced a monolayer of (i)Pr3SiOCH2C6H4- groups onto the surface of the electrode. The bulky -Si(i)Pr3 protecting group not only prevents the uncontrolled growth of structurally ill-defined and electronically blocking polyphenylene multilayers, but also separates the phenyl groups in the monolayer. Thus, the void spaces between these aryl units should allow a better accommodation of sizable molecules. Removal of the -Si(i)Pr3 protecting groups by (n)Bu4NF exposed the reactive benzylic hydroxyl functionalities that can undergo further transformations to anchor functional molecules. As an example, redox-active ferrocene molecules were grafted onto the modified electrode via a sequence of mesylation, azidation, and copper-catalyzed [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions. The presence of ferrocenyl groups on the surface was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic and electrochemical studies. The resulting ferrocene-modified glassy carbon electrode exhibits cyclic voltammograms typical of surface-bound redox active species and remarkable electrochemical stability in an acidic aqueous environment.