Guanidine based self-assembled monolayers on Au nanoparticles as artificial phosphodiesterases

Gold nanoparticles passivated with a long chain alkanethiol decorated with a phenoxyguanidine moiety were prepared and investigated as catalysts in the cleavage of the RNA model compound HPNP and diribonucleoside monophosphates. The catalytic efficiency and the high effective molarity value of the Au monolayer protected colloids points to a high level of cooperation between the catalytic groups.