Alkyl-acid ligands for nanocrystals

A quantum dot binding ligand having the formula:

• wherein
• each R1a, R1b, R2 and R4 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C1-20 alkyl, C1-20 heteroalkyl, C2-20 alkenyl, C2-20 alkynyl, cycloalkyl and aryl;
• each R3a and R3b is independently selected from the group consisting of H and C1-6 alkyl;
• subscripts m and n are each independently 0 or 1, such that m+n is 1;
• and
• subscript p is an integer of from 5 to about 500,
• wherein
• when subscript m is 0, then at least one of R1a and R1b is H, and R2 is selected from the group consisting of C8-20 alkyl, C8-20 heteroalkyl, C8-20 alkenyl, C8-20 alkynyl, cycloalkyl and aryl, and
• when subscript m is 1, then R1a and R2 are both H and R1b is selected from the group consisting of C8-20 alkyl, C8-20 heteroalkyl, C8-20 alkenyl, C8-20 alkynyl, cycloalkyl and aryl.