Tripodal tris-disulfides as capping agents for a controlled mixed functionalization of gold nanoparticles

The design and synthesis of tripodal 1,3,5-R-2,4,6-R?-benzene tris-disulfides (R = Et, R? = phenyl or alkyl) is reported. These multi-armed systems were employed in the stable capping of colloidal AuNPs, allowing control of the ratio between the benzene core and peripheral moieties. These systems were shown to act as sensing nanomaterials for nitro aromatic explosives.