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Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Insights into the Interactions of Amino Acids and Peptides with Inorganic Materials Using Single-Molecule Force Spectroscopy
Published on: March 6, 2017
MEISENHEIMER COMPLEX BETWEEN 2,4,6-TRINITROTOLUENE AND 3-AMINOPROPYLTRIETHOXYSILANE AND ITS USE FOR A PAPER-BASED
Shantelle Hughes1, Samuel S R Dasary1, Salma Begum1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39217.
Abstract:
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) forms a red-colored Meisenheimer complex with 3-aminopropyltrenthoxysilane (APTES) both in solution and on solid phase. The TNT-APTES complex is unique since it forms yellow-colored complexes with 2,4,6-trinitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol, and no complex with 2,4-dinitrotoluene. The absorption spectrum of TNT-APTES has two absorption bands at 530 and 650 nm, while APTES complexes with 2,4,6-trinitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol have absorption maxima at around 420 nm, and no absorption change for 2,4-dinitrotoluene. The TNT-APTES complex facilitates the exchange of the TNT-CH3 proton/deuteron with solvent molecules. The red color of TNT-APTES is immediately visible at 1 µM of TNT.

