title: Simple direct formation of self-assembled N-heterocyclic carbene monolayers on gold and their application in biosensing.
abstract: The formation of organic films on gold employing N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has been previously shown to be a useful strategy for generating stable organic films. However, NHCs or NHC precursors typically require inert atmosphere and harsh conditions for their generation and use. Herein we describe the use of benzimidazolium hydrogen carbonates as bench stable solid precursors for the preparation of NHC films in solution or by vapour-phase deposition from the solid state. The ability to prepare these films by vapour-phase deposition permitted the analysis of the films by a variety of surface science techniques, resulting in the first measurement of NHC desorption energy (158±10 kJ mol(-1)) and confirmation that the NHC sits upright on the surface. The use of these films in surface plasmon resonance-type biosensing is described, where they provide specific advantages versus traditional thiol-based films.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.|Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
authors: Cathleen M
authors: CM
authors: Crudden
authors: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: J Hugh
authors: JH
authors: Horton
authors: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Mina R
authors: MR
authors: Narouz
authors: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Zhijun
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Christene A
authors: CA
authors: Smith
authors: Protein Function Discovery Facility, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Munro
authors: EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK.
authors: Christopher J
authors: 0000-0001-9750-6494
authors: CJ
authors: Baddeley
authors: EaStCHEM School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK.
authors: Christian R
authors: 0000-0001-7579-7876
authors: CR
authors: Larrea
authors: Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Benedict
authors: B
authors: Drevniok
authors: Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Bheeshmon
authors: B
authors: Thanabalasingam
authors: Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Alastair B
authors: AB
authors: McLean
authors: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Olena V
authors: OV
authors: Zenkina
authors: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.|Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4.
authors: Iraklii I
authors: II
authors: Ebralidze
authors: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4.
authors: Zhe
authors: Z
authors: She
authors: Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1C 1A4.|Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H6.
authors: Heinz-Bernhard
authors: HB
authors: Kraatz
authors: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: Mosey
authors: Department of Chemistry, Queen's University, 90 Bader Lane, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors: Lisa N
authors: LN
authors: Saunders
authors: Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan.
authors: Akiko
authors: A
authors: Yagi