Patent ID: 7361516

Claim:
A ligand comprising A first module comprising: two 1,3-dimercaptopropyl groups that can attach to an inorganic surface; an alkylene moiety attached to each of the 1,3-dimercaptopropyl group; and a bridging group having the formula wherein each of the ester or the amide moiety of the bridging group is linked to each of the alkylene moiety attached to 1,3-dimercaptopropyl group; two second modules attached to the bridging group that can impart water-solubility to said ligand and to said inorganic surface to which said ligand may be attached and wherein the bond to the right of the phenyl ring shows point of attachment to the second modules; and a third module that contains a functional group; wherein the second module is positioned between the first module and the third module.