Norbornadiene-functionalized triazatriangulenium and trioxatriangulenium platforms

The Norbornadiene/Quadricyclane Pair as Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage System: Surface Science Investigations

For the transition to renewable energy sources, novel energy storage materials are more important than ever. This review addresses so-called molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems, which appear very promising since they combine light harvesting and energy storing in one-photon one-molecule processes. The focus is on norbornadiene (NBD), a particularly interesting candidate, which is converted to the strained valence isomer quadricyclane (QC) upon irradiation. The stored energy can be released on demand. The energy-releasing cycloreversion from QC to NBD can be initiated by a thermal, catalytic, or electrochemical trigger. The reversibility of the energy storage and release cycles determines the general practicality of a MOST system. In the search for derivatives, which enable large-scale applications, fundamental surface science studies help to assess the feasibility of potential substituted NBD/QC couples. We include investigations under well-defined ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions as well as experiments in liquid phase. Next to the influence of the catalytically active surfaces on the isomerization between the two valence isomers, information on adsorption geometries, thermal stability limits, and reaction pathways of the respective molecules are discussed. Moreover, laboratory-scaled test devices demonstrate the proof of concept in various areas of application.

Borylated norbornadiene derivatives: Synthesis and application in Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions

The photochromic norbornadiene/quadricyclane system is among the most promising candidates for molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage. As in this context there is still the need for new tailor-made derivatives, borylated norbornadienes were synthesized that may be used as versatile building blocks. Thus, the 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-(bicyclo[2.2.1]heptadien-2-yl)-1,3,2-dioxaborolane was prepared and shown to be a suitable substrate for Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions with selected haloarenes. It was demonstrated exemplarily that the novel monosubstituted 2-(1-naphthyl)norbornadiene, that is accessible through this route, is transformed to the corresponding quadricyclane upon irradiation, whereas the back reaction can be accomplished by thermal treatment.

Azimuthal Dipolar Rotor Arrays on Surfaces

A set of dipolar molecular rotor compounds was designed, synthesized and adsorbed as self‐assembled 2D arrays on Ag(111) surfaces. The title molecules are constructed from three building blocks: (a) 4,8,12‐trioxatriangulene (TOTA) platforms that are known to physisorb on metal surfaces such as Au(111) and Ag(111), (b) phenyl groups attached to the central carbon atom that function as pivot joints to reduce the barrier to rotation, (c) pyridine and pyridazine units as small dipolar units on top. Theoretical calculations and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) investigations hint at the fact that the dipoles of neighboring rotors interact through space through pairs of energetically favorable head‐to‐tail arrangements.

Trioxatriangulenium (TOTA+) as a robust carbon-based Lewis acid in frustrated Lewis pair chemistry

We report the reactivity between the water stable Lewis acidic trioxatriangulenium ion (TOTA+) and a series of Lewis bases such as phosphines and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). The nature of the Lewis acid-base interaction was analyzed via variable temperature (VT) NMR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. While small and strongly nucleophilic phosphines, such as PMe3, led to the formation of a Lewis acid-base adduct, frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) were observed for sterically hindered bases such as P( t Bu)3. The TOTA+-P( t Bu)3 FLP was characterized as an encounter complex, and found to promote the heterolytic cleavage of disulfide bonds, formaldehyde fixation, dehydrogenation of 1,4-cyclohexadiene, heterolytic cleavage of the C-Br bonds, and interception of Staudinger reaction intermediates. Moreover, TOTA+ and NHC were found to first undergo single-electron transfer (SET) to form [TOTA]·[NHC]˙+, which was confirmed via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and subsequently form a [TOTA-NHC]+ adduct or a mixture of products depending the reaction conditions used.

Coverage-Controlled Superstructures of C3 -Symmetric Molecules: Honeycomb versus Hexagonal Tiling

The competition between honeycomb and hexagonal tiling of molecular units can lead to large honeycomb superstructures on surfaces. Such superstructures exhibit pores that may be used as 2D templates for functional guest molecules. Honeycomb superstructures of molecules that comprise a C₃ symmetric platform on Au(111) and Ag(111) surfaces are presented. The superstructures cover nearly mesoscopic areas with unit cells containing up to 3000 molecules, more than an order of magnitude larger than previously reported. The unit cell size may be controlled by the coverage. A fairly general model was developed to describe the energetics of honeycomb superstructures built from C₃ symmetric units. Based on three parameters that characterize two competing bonding arrangements, the model is consistent with the present experimental data and also reproduces various published results. The model identifies the relevant driving force, mostly related to geometric aspects, of the pattern formation.