Alkanethiol molecules containing a polar aromatic group (C22H45-SO2-C6H4-O-C4H8-SH) were used to stabilize gold clusters, formed in a two-phase system (J. Chem. Sec., Chem. Commun. 1994, 801). The gold nanoparticles were investigated using TEM, FTIR, UV/vis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and compared to a monolayer formed from the same alkanelthiol molecule onto a planar surface. The results show that surfactant-coated nanoparticles are indeed formed and that the incorporation of a polar aromatic group, into the thiol molecule, does not hinder the self-assembling process.