Reactions on Monolayers: Organic Synthesis in Two Dimensions

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) provide ideal molecularly defined platforms to study reactions in two dimensions. The surface chemistry of SAMs can easily be controlled by the head group of the surfactant molecules, which self-assemble into perfectly ordered, crystalline monolayers. A wide range of organic transformations can then be carried out to change the surface chemistry. These reactions have important applications in biological microarray fabrication, such as DNA and peptide chips. In this Microreview we will give an overview of all the classes of reactions that have been performed on SAMs. We will discuss the fundamental difficulties related to synthesis on monolayers, focussing on issues like steric hindrance, characterization, determination of yields and possibilities for multistep syntheses. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)