Boron-Doped Diamond Functionalization by an Electrografting/Alkyne-Azide Click Chemistry Sequence

A straightforward protocol for the covalent functionalization of boron-doped diamond electrodes with either ferrocene or single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is reported. The functionalization method is based on a combination of diazonium salt electrografting and click chemistry. An azide-terminated organic layer is first electrografted onto the diamond surface by electrochemical reduction of 4-azidophenyldiazonium chloride. The azidophenyl-modified surface then reacts rapidly and efficiently with molecules bearing a terminal alkyne moiety by means of Cu-1-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition. Covalent attachment of ferrocene moieties was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, whereas impedance spectroscopy was applied for the characterization of the immobilized DNA.