Gold Nanoparticles with Cyclic Phenylazomethines: One-Pot Synthesis and Metal Ion Sensing

New gold nanoparticles covered with cyclic phenylazomethine (CPA) were obtained by a one-pot synthesis. It is confirmed by XPS that imines of CPA in the nanoparticles (Au-CPA) are partially reduced to amines. The amine part of CPA in Au-CPA is attached to the surfaces of gold nanoparticles, and the imine part works as a redox-active site. A glassy carbon electrode modified with Au-CPA was revealed to work as an electrochemical probe for metal ion sensing.