Silane mixtures

A method of preparing an array of monomers or polymers comprising:

• providing a substrate including a silica surface or other silicon oxide-containing surface thereon;
• contacting the silica or the other silicon oxide-containing surface of the substrate with a silanation composition comprising a mixture of a first compound and a second compound such that the first and the second compounds are covalently attached to the surface to form a silanation coating;
• the first compound comprising a trialkoxy silyl group and a functional group, wherein said functional group is capable of supporting polymer synthesis and is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino and carboxyl;
• the first compound being selected from the group consisting of N-(3-(triethoxysilyl)-propyl)-4-hydroxybutyrarnide;
• N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane;
• 3-((2 hydroxyethyl)methylamino)propyl-trimethoxysilane;
• N-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-N,N-bis(trimethoxy-silylpropyl)-amine;
• 1,2-bis((2-hydroxyethyl)-(3 trimethoxysilylpropyl)aminoethane;
• 3-acetoxy-propyltrimethoxysilane;
• (trimethoxysilyloxy)-(C3-C12-alkyl)-(triethoxysilane);
• and 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane;
• and
• the second compound comprising a trialkoxy silyl group and wherein the second compound in the mixture does not include the functional group of the first compound;
• the second compound being selected from the group consisting of 1,2-bis(trimethoxysilyl)-ethane;
• 1,3-bis(trimethoxysilyl)propane;
• 1,6-bis(trimethoxysilyl)hexane;
• 3-(N,N-dimethyl-amino)-propyl-trimethoxysilane;
• and N,N-bis(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)-methylamine;
• wherein the molar ratio of the first compound to the second compound in the mixture ranges from about 1:50 to 1:500;
• and wherein the mixture of the first and second compounds in the silanation coating imparts increased hydrolytic stability to the coating;
• protecting the functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis of the first compound with a protecting group or reacting the functional group capable of supporting polymer synthesis of the first compound with a compound having a reactive group protected by a protecting group to provide the first compound of the silanation coating protected with the protecting group;
• removing the protecting group of the first compound in selected regions of the silanation coating to provide an exposed functional or reactive group;
• reacting said exposed functional or reactive group with the monomer or the polymer whereby the monomer or the polymer is coupled to the exposed group;
• and
• repeating the steps of removing and reacting to produce the array of monomers or polymers.