Extended two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks based on thiolate-copper coordination bonds.

Self-assembly and surface-mediated reactions of 1,3,5-tris(4-mercaptophenyl)benzene--a three-fold symmetric aromatic trithiol--are studied on Cu(111) by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) conditions. In order to reveal the nature of intermolecular bonds and to understand the specific role of the substrate for their formation, these studies were extended to Ag(111). Room-temperature deposition onto either substrate yields densely packed trigonal structures with similar appearance and lattice parameters. Yet, thermal annealing reveals distinct differences between both substrates: on Cu(111) moderate annealing temperatures (~150 °C) already drive the emergence of two different porous networks, whereas on Ag(111) higher annealing temperatures (up to ~300 °C) were required to induce structural changes. In the latter case only disordered structures with characteristic dimers were observed. These differences are rationalized by the contribution of the adatom gas on Cu(111) to the formation of metal-coordination bonds. Density functional theory (DFT) methods were applied to identify intermolecular bonds in both cases by means of their bond distances and geometries.

Controlling the charge state of a single redox molecular switch.

Scanning tunneling microscopy and dynamic force microscopy in the noncontact mode are used in combination to investigate the reversible switching between two stable states of a copper complex adsorbed on a NaCl bilayer grown on Cu(111). The molecular conformation in these two states is deduced from scanning tunneling microscopy imaging, while their charge is characterized by the direct measurement of the tip-molecule electrostatic force. These measurements demonstrate that the molecular bistability is achieved through a charge-induced rearrangement of the coordination sphere of the metal complex, qualifying this system as a new electromechanical single-molecular switch.

On the scalability of supramolecular networks--high packing density vs optimized hydrogen bonds in tricarboxylic acid monolayers.

We present a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) based study of 1,3,5-tris[4'-carboxy(1,1'-biphenyl-4-yl)]benzene (TCBPB) monolayers at the liquid-solid interface. In analogy to smaller aromatic 3-fold symmetric tricarboxylic acids, this compound was aimed to yield two-dimensional nanoporous networks with large cavities. Depending on the solute concentration, three crystallographically distinct phases with pores of different size and shape were observed on graphite (001) with heptanoic acid as solvent. All three phases have the same dimer motif as basic building block in common. Yet, as opposed to other carboxylic acid assemblies, these dimers are not interconnected by 2-fold O-H...O hydrogen bonds as anticipated, but by two energetically inferior C-H...O hydrogen bonds. Instead of the common head-to-head arrangement, this bonding pattern results in displaced dimers, which allow for higher packing density, and due to their lower symmetry give rise to chiral polymorphs. In accordance with studies of comparable systems, a positive correlation between solute concentration and average surface packing density is identified and rationalized by thermodynamic arguments.

Surface mediated synthesis of 2D covalent organic frameworks: 1,3,5-tris(4-bromophenyl)benzene on graphite(001), Cu(111), and Ag(110).

The on surface synthesis of a two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic framework from a halogenated aromatic monomer under ultra-high vacuum conditions is shown to be dependent on the choice of substrate.