Spontaneous grafting of diazonium salts: chemical mechanism on metallic surfaces

The spontaneous reaction of diazonium salts on various substrates has been widely employed since it consists of a simple immersion of the substrate in the diazonium salt solution. As electrochemical processes involving the same diazonium salts, the spontaneous grafting is assumed to give covalently poly(phenylene)-like bonded films. Resistance to solvents and to ultrasonication is commonly accepted as indirect proof of the existence of a covalent bond. However, the most relevant attempts to demonstrate a metal-C interface bond have been obtained by an XPS investigation of spontaneously grafted films on copper. Similarly, our experiments give evidence of such a bond in spontaneously grafted films on nickel substrates in acetonitrile. In the case of gold substrates, the formation of a spontaneous film was unexpected but reported in the literature in parallel to our observations. Even if no interfacial bond was observed, formation of the films was explained by grafting of aryl cations or radicals on the surface arising from dediazoniation, the film growing later by azo coupling, radical addition, or cationic addition on the grafted phenyl layer. Nevertheless, none of these mechanisms fits our experimental results showing the presence of an Au-N bond. In this work, we present a fine spectroscopic analysis of the coatings obtained on gold and nickel substrates that allow us to propose a chemical structure of such films, in particular, their interface with the substrates. After testing the most probable mechanisms, we have concluded in favor of the involvement of two complementary mechanisms which are the direct reaction of diazonium salts with the gold surface that accounts for the observed Au-N interfacial bonds as well as the formation of aryl cations able to graft on the substrate through Au-C linkages.     

Photochemical grafting of diazonium salts on metals

4-Nitrobenzenediazonium may be photochemically grafted onto gold, copper and iron under visible and UV light. Thin nanometre layers are obtained and characterized by IRRAS, electrochemistry and ellipsometry.     

Gold(III) diazonium complexes for electrochemical reductive grafting

Gold(III) diazonium complexes were synthesized for the first time and studied for electrochemical reductive grafting. The diazonium complex [CN-4-C(6)H(4)N≡N]AuCl(4) was synthesized by protonating CN-4-C(6)H(4)NH(2) with chloroauric acid H[AuCl(4)]·3H(2)O to form the ammonium salt [CN-4-C(6)H(4)NH(3)]AuCl(4), which was then oxidized by the one-electron oxidizing agent [NO]PF(6) in CH(3)CN. The highly irreversible reduction potential of 0.1 mM [CN-4-C(6)H(4)N≡N]AuCl(4) observed at -0.06 V versus Ag/AgCl in CH(3)CN/0.1 M [Bu(4)N]PF(6) encompasses both gold(0) deposition and diazonium reduction. Repeated scans showed the absence of the reduction peak on the second run, which indicates that surface modification with a blocking gold aryl film has occurred and is largely complete.     

Characterization of diamond surface terminations using electrochemical grafting with diazonium salts

A new characterization technique to identify qualitatively diamond surface terminations and to measure quantitatively the density of hydrogen atoms bonded to the diamond surface is introduced using electrochemical grafting of diamond with diazonium salts. The cathodic peak potentials for the grafting of nitrophenyl layers reveal qualitative information about surface terminations ranging from –H, to –OH to –O–. The charges consumed during the conversion of nitro- to aminophenyl are used to calculate quantitatively the density of hydrogen atoms bonded to the diamond surface. As hydrogen is generally very difficult to detect by other methods like X-ray Photon Spectroscopy, this new method will add significantly to the understanding of surface related properties of transducers.     

Enhanced electrostatic modulation of ionic diffusion through carbon nanotube membranes by diazonium grafting chemistry

A membrane structure consisting of an aligned array of open ended carbon nanotubes (7 nm i.d.) spanning across an inert polymer matrix allows the diffusive transport of aqueous ionic species through CNT cores. The plasma oxidation process that opens CNTs tips inherently introduces carboxylic acid groups at the CNT tips, which allows for a limited amount of chemical functional at the CNT pore entrance. However for numerous applications, it is important to increase the density of carboxylic acid groups at the pore entrance for effective separation processes. Aqueous diazonium-based electrochemistry significantly increases the functional density of carboxylic acid groups. pH dependent dye adsorption–desorption and interfacial capacitance measurements indicate 5–6 times increase in functional density. To further control the spatial location of the functional chemistry, a fast flowing inert liquid column inside the CNT core is found to restrict the diazonium grafting to the CNT tips only. This is confirmed by the increased flux of positively charged with anionic functionality. The electrostatic enhancement of ion diffusion is readily screened in 0.1 M electrolyte solution consistent with the membrane pore geometry and increased functional density.     

Sterically hindered diazonium salts for the grafting of a monolayer on metals

An organic monolayer is obtained on Cu, Au, and SiH by electrografting 3,5-bis-tert-butyl benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate, as evidenced by cyclic voltammetry, IR-ATR, and ellipsometry. This results from the bulky groups at the 3,5-positions that sterically hinder the growth of the layer.     

Functionalization of glassy carbon with diazonium salts in ionic liquids

The paper reports on the chemical functionalization of glassy carbon electrodes with 4-bromobenzene (4-BBDT) and 4-(4'-nitrophenylazo)benzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate (4-NAB) salts in ionic liquids. The reaction was carried out at room temperature in air without any external electrical bias in either hydrophobic (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) or hydrophilic (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate) ionic liquids. The resulting surfaces were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical measurements. Electrochemical reduction of the terminal nitro groups allowed the determination of surface coverage and formation of an amine-terminated carbon surfaces. The results were compared to glassy carbon chemically modified in an aqueous solution in the presence of 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) with the same diazonium salt. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy coupled with electrochemical measurements allowed to distinguish between the reduction of -NO2 to -NH2 group and the -N=N- to -NH-NH- bond.     

Molecular patterning on carbon based surfaces through photobiotin activation

We have demonstrated the site-specific adhesion of photobiotin as a method of producing protein micropatterns. These patterns were created by the selective UV irradiation of a thin film of deposited photobiotin. The UV activated areas of photobiotin were then developed using fluorescently labelled avidin. The size of pattern produced is an order of magnitude smaller than those previously reported by this method. The patterns were characterised, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine their microstructure. It was found that the AFM could discriminate between the areas of protein immobilised to the surface through the activated photobiotin, and the bare substrate surface where the inactivated photobiotin had been removed during the washing process. The potential of these patterns as sensing surfaces is demonstrated through the creation of a spatially patterned immunosensing surface. In this case, a biotinylated antibody was bound to the surface and the pattern developed using a second antibody specific to the immobilised biotinylated antibody. This technique could thus provide a simple and efficient method of producing high density immunoassay systems.     

Attachment of organic layers to conductive or semiconductive surfaces by reduction of diazonium salts

Surface chemistry is the topic of this tutorial review. It describes the electrochemical reduction of aryl diazonium salts on carbon, silicon or metals which leads to the formation of an aromatic organic layer covalently bonded to the surface. The method which permits such a modification is set forth. The proof for the existence of the organic layer is brought forward. The grafting mechanism and the covalent bonding between the surface and the aryl group are discussed. The formation of mono or multilayers depending on the experimental conditions is rationalized. Finally some examples of the possible uses of this reaction are given.     

Electrochemical and impedance spectroscopy studies of various diazonium salts on a glassy carbon electrode

Abstract  

The derivatization of a glassy carbon electrode surface was achieved with and without electrochemical reduction of various diazonium salts in acetonitrile solutions. The surfaces were characterized, before and after their attachment, by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to evidence the formation of a coating on the carbon surface. The results were indicative of the presence of substituted phenyl groups on the investigated surface. Also, the effects of diazonium thin films at the surface of a glassy carbon electrode, modification time, and salt concentration on their electrochemical responses in the presence of the Fe(CN)₆^3−/4− probe were investigated. Electrochemical impedance measurements indicated that the kinetics of electron transfer is slowed down when the time and the concentration used to modify the glassy carbon electrode are increased. We therefore modified a glassy carbon surface via its derivatization with and without electrochemical reduction of various diazonium salts in acetonitrile solution.     

Reaction of 5-alkylidenerhodanines with diazonium salts

In the action of diazonium salts on 5-alkylidenerhodanines, azo compounds are formed by the replacement of one or two hydrogen atoms in the methyl group. In the case of 5-ethylidenerhodanines, the formation of an azorhodanine through the replacement of the alkylidene residue by an arylazo group takes place simultaneously. In the formazyl derivatives the long-wave absorption maximum is displaced hypsochromically by 15–20 nm as compared with the dyes having a single azo group.     

Reaction of heterocyclic diazonium salts with hydrazones

Depending on the nature of the heteroring and the hydrazone, a formazan or a heterylazophenylhydrazone are formed in the reaction of an aryl hydrazone with the diazonium salt obtained from a heterocyclic amine. Disproportionate to form a triphenylformazan is also possible.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1062–1064, August, 1972