Electrografting of methylamine through C–H activation or oxidation to give highly aminated surfaces

Abstract Three different methods are proposed to obtain surfaces (glassy carbon, gold, iron, copper) modified with either primary or secondary amino groups. The electrochemical C–H activation of CH3NH2 gives Surface-(CHNH2)n structures. The same reaction applied to CH3NO2 leads to Surface-(CHNO2)n that can be electrochemically reduced to Surface-(CHNH2)n. The C–H activation takes place by H abstraction from CH3NH2 or CH3NO2 by the 2,6-dimethyl phenyl radical, which does not react with surfaces and therefore does not interfere in the surface modification. The electrochemical oxidation of methylamine provides Surface-(NHCH3)n. These films are characterized by electrochemistry, IR, XPS and AFM.