Comparison of lipoic and asparagusic acid for surface-initiated disulfide-exchange polymerization.

Bring it on: Organic chemistry on surfaces and in solution is not the same; this study offers a perfect example that small changes (from 27 to 35°; see graphic) can result in big consequences. Strained cyclic disulfides from asparagusic, but not lipoic acid, are ideal for growing functional architectures directly on surfaces; for the substrate-initiated synthesis of cell-penetrating poly(disulfide)s in solution, exactly the contrary is true.