Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
Published on: April 9, 2018
Controlled formation of thiol and disulfide interfaces
Vlada Artel1, Reut Cohen, Inbal Aped
1Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel.
This study details creating thiol-functionalized surfaces and converting them to disulfides for efficient biomolecule immobilization. A novel method using 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) reliably distinguishes thiols from disulfides on surfaces.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are crucial for surface functionalization.
- Controlling thiol and disulfide chemistry on surfaces is challenging.
- Existing analytical methods are insufficient for distinguishing thiol and disulfide moieties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop uniform thiol-functionalized siloxane-anchored SAMs.
- To selectively transform these SAMs into intramonolayer disulfides.
- To establish a reliable method for distinguishing and quantifying surface thiol and disulfide groups.
Main Methods:
- Controlled synthesis of thiol-functionalized siloxane-anchored SAMs.
- Selective oxidation to form intramonolayer disulfides.
- Application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB, Sanger's reagent) for surface analysis.
- Characterization using IR, UV, and XPS spectroscopy.
- Demonstration on thiol-functionalized hybrid silica nanoparticles.
Main Results:
- Uniform thiol-functionalized SAMs were successfully created.
- Intramonolayer disulfides were formed, enabling oxidant-free immobilization of thiol-containing biomolecules.
- A novel DNFB-based assay effectively differentiates and quantifies surface thiols and disulfides.
- The developed surface chemistry was successfully applied to silica nanoparticles.
Conclusions:
- A robust method for creating and analyzing thiol/disulfide surface chemistry was established.
- The DNFB assay provides a reliable tool for surface functional group quantification.
- The developed SAMs and disulfide chemistry offer a versatile platform for biomolecule immobilization on nanoparticles.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation and Reactions of Thiols
Structure and Nomenclature of Thiols and Sulfides
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Protein Modifications in the RER
Broadly, these modifications can be categorized into four main categories — glycosylation, formation of disulfide bonds, assembly of protein subunits, and specific proteolytic cleavages like removal of signal sequences.
Phase II Reactions: Glutathione Conjugation and Mercapturic Acid Formation
Several distinctive characteristics distinguish glutathione conjugation from other phase II...
Formation of Complex Ions

