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Neal K Devaraj

Publications and source records attributed to Neal K Devaraj.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Rate of interfacial electron transfer through the 1,2,3-triazole linkage.

The rate of electron transfer is measured to two ferrocene and one iron tetraphenylporphyrin redox species coupled through terminal acetylenes to azide-terminated thiol monolayers by the Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (a Sharpless "click" reaction) to form the 1,2,3-triazole linkage. The high yield, chemoselectivity, convenience, and broad applicability of this triazole formation reaction make such a modular assembly strategy very attractive. Electron-transfer rate constants from greater than 60,000 to 1 s(-1) are obtained by varying the length and conjugation of the electron-transfer bridge and by varying the surrounding diluent thiols in the monolayer. Triazole and the triazole carbonyl linkages provide similar electronic coupling for electron transfer as esters. The ability to vary the rate of electron transfer to many different redox species over many orders of magnitude by using modular coupling chemistry provides a convenient way to study and control the delivery of electrons to multielectron redox catalysts and similar interfacial systems that require controlled delivery of electrons.

Alkynes↗

Mixed azide-terminated monolayers: a platform for modifying electrode surfaces.

We have prepared and characterized mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on gold electrodes from azido alkane thiols and various omega-functionalized alkane thiols. In the presence of copper(I) catalysts, these azide-modified surfaces are shown to react rapidly and quantitatively with terminal acetylenes forming 1,2,3-triazoles, via "click" chemistry. The initial azide substituents can be identified and monitored using both grazing-angle infrared (IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectrosopies. Acetylenes possessing redox-active ferrocene substituents react with the azide-terminated mixed SAMs and electrochemical measurements of the ferrocene-modified SAM electrodes have been used to quantify the redox centers attached to these platforms. Time-resolved electrochemical measurements have enabled us to follow the formation of these ferrocene centers and thus to measure the rate of the surface "click" reaction. Under optimal conditions this well-behaved second-order reaction takes place with a rate constant of 1 x 10(3) M(-)(1) s(-)(1). Typical reaction times of several minutes were realized using micromolar concentrations of acetylene. These techniques have been used to construct well-characterized, covalently modified monolayers that can be employed as functional electrode surfaces.

Azides↗

Selective functionalization of independently addressed microelectrodes by electrochemical activation and deactivation of a coupling catalyst.

We demonstrate selective functionalization of independently addressed microelectrodes by electrochemical activation and deactivation of a coupling catalyst. 1,2,3-Triazole formation between terminal acetylenes and organic azides is efficiently catalyzed by copper(I) complexes (a Sharpless "click" reaction), while the oxidized copper(II) complexes are inactive. By electrochemically activating or deactivating the catalyst by switching its redox state, we demonstrate control over triazole formation between surface-immobilized azides and ethynylferrocene. The reaction proceeds on the time scale of minutes using submicromolar concentration of reactants and catalyst, requires mild potentials for catalyst activation and deactivation, and works in aqueous and mixed aqueous-organic solvents. By appropriate biasing of each electrode, we selectively modify one of two chemically identical 10-mum-wide electrodes separated by 10 mum in an interdigitated array. The ability to switch on or off the reaction by electrical addressing together with the chemoselectivity of this reaction makes Cu(I)-catalyzed triazole formation an ideal method for the chemical modification of multielectrode arrays.

Catalysis↗

Chemoselective covalent coupling of oligonucleotide probes to self-assembled monolayers.

A chemoselective route to routinely and rapidly attach oligonucleotide probes to well-defined surfaces is presented. Cu(I) tris(benzyltriazolylmethyl)amine-catalyzed coupling of terminal acetylenes to azides on a self-assembled monolayer is used instead of traditional nucleophilic-electrophilic coupling reactions. The reaction proceeds well even in the presence of purposely introduced nucleophilic and electrophilic impurities. The density of oligonucleotide probes can be controlled by controlling the amount of azide functionality. Although most of our work was done on gold surfaces, this technique should be readily applicable to any surface on which an azide-containing monolayer can be assembled as we have preliminarily demonstrated by derivatizing azidotrimethoxysilane-modified glass slides with fluorescein-containing oligonucleotides.

Amines↗