Assessment of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine as a capping agent for gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles stabilized with 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) were prepared by ligand exchange and phase transfer (toluene/water) of functionalized gold nanoparticles. DMAP-protected gold nanoparticles are water-soluble, positively charged, and fairly monodisperse (6.2 +/- 0.9 nm). To understand the scope of this interesting system, the details of the binding of DMAP to gold nanoparticles were investigated. The adsorption of DMAP onto gold surfaces was studied by electrochemistry and surface plasmon resonance. It is concluded that of the three most likely binding modes, the one involving the pyridine nitrogen binding to the gold surface, as suggested previously (Gittins, D. I.; Caruso, F. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2001, 40, 3001), is consistent with experimental data. Other 4-substituted pyridines were also assessed as capping agents. The solubility in toluene and basicity of the incoming ligand, as well as the ability to form charged nanoparticles, determine whether ligand exchange and subsequent phase transfer of the nanoparticles occur. The solubility and stability of the DMAP-protected gold nanoparticles were studied as a function of pH using UV-visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These nanoparticles are soluble and stable over a wide pH range (5.0-12.8). It was found that excess DMAP is necessary for both the preparation and the stability of the DMAP-protected gold nanoparticles.