Surface-Triggered Tandem Coupling Reactions of Cyclic Azasilanes.

Cyclic azasilanes have been synthesized for the purpose of developing coupling agents appropriate for a variety of nanotechnologies including surface modification of nanoparticles, nanocrystals, mesoporous materials and substrates. N-Methyl-aza-2,2,4-trimethylsilacyclopentane is representative of this class of compounds. Preliminary data for the treatment of inorganic surfaces, including nanoparticles and oxidized silicon wafers, with cyclic azasilanes suggest high-density monolayer deposition by a ring-opening reaction. Cyclic azasilanes contain a cryptic amine functionality that can perform a subsequent tandem coupling reaction with functional molecules after the surface-triggered ring-opening reaction, allowing for a one-pot self-assembly route on nanostructures. Tandem coupling reactions are demonstrated via addition reactions of the cryptic amine with epoxy and acrylate systems.