Synthesis and self-assembling properties on gold of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives containing ω-mercaptoalkylalkanoate groups

The synthesis of a series of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (2-MeNQ) derivatives containing surface active ω-mercaptoalkylalkanoate groups with 5–12 atoms in the side-chains is reported. The compounds form stable self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold. The complete reduction of the terminal 2-MeNQ group in the SAMs was confirmed by in situ Fourier-transform surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (FT-SERS). The basic electrochemical properties of the monolayers were determined by cyclic voltammetry (CV).