Electron-conducting molecular preparations

• US 5,556,524 A
• Filed: 02/16/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
• Original Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
• Inventors: Albers, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Bruce F.
• Application Number:
  US08/389,597
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 252/500, 429/192, 429/198, 429/213, 429/249, 204/415, 204/296, 204/403
• US Class Current: 204/403.06
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 409/14 containing three or more hetero rings
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 61/126 with a five-membered ring containing one sulfur atom in the ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/127 comprising five-membered aromatic rings in the main chain, e.g. polypyrroles, polythiophenes

Abstract

The invention relates to an electron-conducting molecular preparation designed to act as a conductor by receiving an electron at its one end and conducting the electron along its molecular structure to its other end. The molecule in the preparation has the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12

the groups X and Y are identical or different and denote functional substituents bound to the pyridine nitrogen, or one or both of X and Y are absent, and

R, being identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic side chain introduced for enhancing the solubility of the molecule in organic solvents, for example a branched or unbranched alkyl or alkoxy group containing any number of carbon atoms.

The molecular preparations can be incorporated in a substantially insulating membrane to act as conductors between an electroactive species and an electrode in diagnostic determinations.

Claims

1. A conductor structure for conducting electrons, comprising a first end structured and arranged to receive electrons and a second end structured and arranged to donate electrons, wherein the conductor structure comprises, acting as a molecular conductor conducting electrons along its molecular structure, a compound with the following general formula (I):

##STR7## wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12

the groups X and Y are identical or different and denote functional substituents bound to the pyridine nitrogen, or one or both of X and Y are absent, and

R, being identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic side chain introduced for enhancing the solubility of the molecule in organic solvents, containing any number of carbon atoms.

2. A conductor structure according to claim 1, wherein n represents an integer from 2 to 12.

3. A conductor structure according to claim 1, wherein R, being identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or a branched or unbranched alkyl or alkoxy group.

4. A conductor structure according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the groups X and Y is an aliphatic branched or unbranched alkyl side chain containing a number of carbon atoms between 1 and 20.

5. A conductor structure according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the groups X and Y contains an aliphatic alkyl chain containing a number of carbon atoms between 1 and 20, attached at its one end to the pyridine nitrogen and having at its other end a functional group, said group serving as a tether group used for attachment to an organic or inorganic surface.

6. A conductor structure according to claim 5, wherein one or both of the groups X and Y is selected from the group consisting of:

##STR8## where x and y are integers in the range of 1 to 20.

7. A conductor structure according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the groups X and Y denotes a metal complex with formula --M--L, in which M is a metal ion forming a coordination bond to the pyridine nitrogen, and L is an external mono- or multidendate ligand or functional group bound to the metal ion by a coordination bond.

8. A conductor structure according to claim 7, wherein the metal ion is selected from a group consisting of copper, nickel, ruthenium and osmium.

9. A conductor structure according to claim 7, wherein the ligand L or the complex M-L is a redox protein or redox enzyme.

10. A conductor structure according to claim 1, wherein the group X or Y is a redox protein or redox enzyme.

11. An electronic device used for diagnostic determinations of a chemical species, containing a molecular preparation essential for generating an electronic response in the form of a change in current potential, conductivity or capacitance, said molecular preparation being an electron-conducting molecular preparation according to claim 10.

12. An electronic device used for diagnostic determinations of a chemical species, containing a molecular preparation essential for generating an electronic response in the form of a change in current, potential, conductivity or capacitance, said molecular preparation being an electron-conducting molecular preparation according to claim 1.

13. A membrane for passing electrons, containing electron-conducting parts in a substantially insulating membrane, wherein a molecular preparation is incorporated to form electronic conductors in the substantially insulating membrane, said molecular preparation having the following general formula (I):

##STR9## wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 12

the groups X and Y are identical or different and denote functional substituents bound to the pyridine nitrogen, or one or both of X and Y are absent, and

R, being identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic side chain introduced for enhancing the solubility of the molecule in organic solvents and containing any number of carbon atoms.

14. A membrane according to claim 13, wherein in the molecular preparation n represents an integer from 2 to 12.

15. A membrane according to claim 13, wherein in the molecular preparation one or both of the groups X and Y is an aliphatic branched or unbranched alkyl side chain containing a number of carbon atoms between 1 and 20.

16. A membrane according to claim 13, wherein in the molecular preparation the group X or Y is a redox protein or redox enzyme.

17. An electronic device containing a membrane according to claim 16 attached to an electrode surface.

18. A membrane according to claim 13, wherein the membrane is selected from the group consisting of a molecular monolayer, a molecular bilayer, a molecular multilayer and a thin polymer layer.

19. An electronic device containing a membrane according to claim 13 attached to an electrode surface.

20. Compound of the general formula (I):

##STR10## wherein n represents an integer from 3 to 12

the groups X and Y are identical or different and denote functional substituents bound to the pyridine nitrogen, or one or both of X and Y are absent, and

R, being identical or different, represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic side chain introduced for enhancing the solubility of the molecule in organic solvents.