Arrays of Amphiphilic Metal Complexes for Guided Molecular Recognition at Interfaces

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Burkhard König
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2008 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 72989059

Functionalized interfaces are of interest as sensors or sophisticated materials, but their defined preparation is still a challenge. In this project we combine the technique of double layer preparation from self-assembled monolayers and ultrathin Langmuir Blodgett films, which allows a high in-plane control of steric conditions, with amphiphilic metal complex binding sites, providing specific and high affinity to certain functional groups in aqueous media. The so obtained surfaces of ordered metal complex binding sites are used for guided self-assembly of nucleotides in additional layers yielding highly complex, but well defined surface structures. The dependence of the assembly process on the surface structure is explored by modification of the metal complex binding sites and their arrangement in the interface, and by the use of different nucleotides and oligonucleotides for the guided assembly on the surface. With more than one kind of binding site embedded in the surface, the formation of surface patterns becomes possible. Such surfaces may show enhanced binding selectivities. We will explore the effect of different layer compositions on the binding on surface and use template molecules to preorganize binding sites during the layer formation process. Reactive diacetylene amphiphiles allow retaining assembled patterns in a polydiacetylene film.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Participating Person: Professorin Dr. Maria Kalinina