Towards the design of self-sorting nanomaterials through kinetically directed chemoselective control over interfacial surface chemistry.

A gold nanoparticle platform is described in which post-synthesis surface modifications can be conducted using kinetically-tunable strain-promoted cycloaddition chemistry, which is dependent on the electronic properties of the complementary dipolar species. This permits chemoselective reactivity with one reactive dipole over another less reactive dipole, providing exciting opportinities for kinetically-directed self-sorting strategies.