The basal plane allylic alc. functionality of graphite oxide can be converted into N,N-dimethylamide groups through an Eschenmoser-Claisen sigmatropic rearrangement by using N,N-dimethylacetamide di-Me acetal. Subsequent sapon. of these groups affords the carboxylic acids, which, when deprotonated, electrostatically stabilize the graphene sheets in an aq. environment. [on SciFinder(R)]
