Synthesis of 1,2-biphenylethane based single-molecule diodes

Single-molecule functionality in electronic components based on orbital resonances

A gateable single-molecule diode and resonant tunneling diode are realized using molecular orbital engineering in multi-site molecules.

1-Chloro-4-[2-(4-chloro-phen-yl)eth-yl]benzene and its bromo analogue: crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and computational chemistry

The crystal and mol-ecular structures of C14H12Cl2, (I), and C14H12Br2, (II), are described. The asymmetric unit of (I) comprises two independent mol-ecules, A and B, each disposed about a centre of inversion. Each mol-ecule approximates mirror symmetry [the Cb-Cb-Ce-Ce torsion angles = -83.46 (19) and 95.17 (17)° for A, and -83.7 (2) and 94.75 (19)° for B; b = benzene and e = ethyl-ene]. By contrast, the mol-ecule in (II) is twisted, as seen in the dihedral angle of 59.29 (11)° between the benzene rings cf. 0° in (I). The mol-ecular packing of (I) features benzene-C-H⋯π(benzene) and Cl⋯Cl contacts that lead to an open three-dimensional (3D) architecture that enables twofold 3D-3D inter-penetration. The presence of benzene-C-H⋯π(benzene) and Br⋯Br contacts in the crystal of (II) consolidate the 3D architecture. The analysis of the calculated Hirshfeld surfaces confirm the influence of the benzene-C-H⋯π(benzene) and X⋯X contacts on the mol-ecular packing and show that, to a first approximation, H⋯H, C⋯H/H⋯C and C⋯X/X⋯C contacts dominate the packing, each contributing about 30% to the overall surface in each of (I) and (II). The analysis also clearly differentiates between the A and B mol-ecules of (I).

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethene–ketone–arylene–ketone)s containing pendant methylthio groups via metal-free catalyzed copolymerization of aryldiynes with DMSO

A metal-free copolymerization of aryldiynes with DMSO as a monomer gave polyeneketones in good yields and high molecular weight.

A practical protocol for the synthesis of bibenzyls via C(sp3)–H activation of methyl arenes under metal-free conditions

A variety of bibenzyl derivatives have been synthesized with excellent atom economy via C(sp³)–H–C(sp³)–H coupling of readily available methyl arenes using K₂S₂O₈ under metal-free and environmentally benign conditions.

A gate-tunable single-molecule diode

In the pursuit of down-sizing electronic components, the ultimate limit is the use of single molecules as functional devices. The first theoretical proposal of such a device, predicted more than four decades ago, is the seminal Aviram-Ratner rectifier that exploits the orbital structure of the molecule. The experimental realization of single-molecule rectifiers, however, has proven to be challenging. In this work, we report on the experimental realization of a gate-tunable single-molecule rectifier with rectification ratios as high as 600. The rectification mechanism arises from the molecular structure and relies on the presence of two conjugated sites that are weakly coupled through a saturated linker. The observed gate dependence not only demonstrates tunability of the rectification ratio, it also shows that the proposed rectification mechanism based on the orbital structure is operative in the molecule.