A Diethyleneglycol-Pyrene-Modified Ru(II) Catalyst for the Design of Buckypaper Bioelectrodes and the Wiring of Glucose Dehydrogenases

A novel water-soluble Ru complex bearing phenanthrolinequinone ligands, diethyleneglycol linkers and pyrene anchoring groups was synthesized. Electrical wiring of NAD- and FAD-dehydrogenases is demonstrated via NADH oxidation and mediated electron transfer respectively. Bioelectrocatalysis is facilitated by the flexible and hydrophilic diethyleneglycol groups, and strong binding of pyrene groups with the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of the electrodes. Furthermore, owing to the surfactant properties of the PEG-modified complex, high quality CNT dispersions were obtained for homogeneous buckypaper preparation.