Synthesis and properties of functionalized oligo(arylene) molecular wires with thiolated termini: competing thiol-Au and nitro-Au assembly.

We report the synthesis by Suzuki cross-coupling methodology of oligo(arylene) molecular wires with protected thiolates at both termini and a central electron-acceptor unit (3,5-dinitrofluorenone, compounds 10-12) or an electron-donor unit [9-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)fluorene, compounds 14-17] in the backbone. Core reagents are 2,7-dibromo-3,5-dinitrofluorenone 7 (obtained by nitration of 2,7-dibromofluorenone) and 2,7-dibromo-9-(4,5-dimethyl-1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)fluorene 13. The solution electrochemical redox properties of these oligo(arylene) derivatives have been studied. The reduction CVs of the dinitrofluorenone-containing molecules display three reversible/quasireversible couples yielding, sequentially, radical anion, dianion, and radical trianion species, e.g., for 11 E(1red) -1.02 V (vs. Ag/Ag(+) in THF). The 1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene unit imparts good electron donor properties to molecules 14, 15, and 16 with radical cation formation observed at E(ox) ca. 0.65 V (vs. Ag/Ag(+) in DCM). We also report studies on the assembly of 11 and 15 on gold substrates. Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics and X-ray photoelectron spectra of the monolayers reveal that 11 assembles via competing S-Au and NO(2)-Au interactions. This unusual phenomenon is ascribed to the very electron deficient dinitrofluorenone core of 11 weakening the S-Au interaction. An important conclusion is that thiolated molecules which possess strongly electron-withdrawing core units, especially those containing nitro groups, may not be suitable for controlled assembly in junctions. In contrast, 15 assembles via conventional S-Au interactions.

Synthesis and properties of functionalized 4 nm scale molecular wires with thiolated termini for self-assembly onto metal surfaces.

We report the synthesis of new oligo(aryleneethynylene) molecular wires of ca. 4 nm length scale by palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling methodology. Key structural features are the presence of electron donor 9-(1,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)fluorene (compounds 13 and 14) and electron acceptor 9-[di(4-pyridyl)methylene]fluorene units (compound 16) at the core of the molecules. Terminal thiolate substituents are protected as cyanoethylsulfanyl (13 and 16) or thioacetate derivatives (14). The molecules display well-defined redox processes in solution electrochemical studies. The optical properties in solution are similar to those of the fluorenone analog 6: the strongest absorptions for 6, 13 and 16 are in the region lambda(max) = 387-393 nm, with 13 showing an additional shoulder at 415 nm which is not present for 6 and 16; this shoulder is assigned to a HOMO-LUMO transition from the dithiole to the fluorene unit. Molecules 6, 13, 14 and 16 form self-assembled monolayers on gold substrates which exhibit essentially symmetrical current-voltage (I-V) characteristics when contacted by a gold scanning tunelling microscope (STM) tip. The effects of the chemical modifications at the central unit of 6, 14 and 16 on the HOMO-LUMO levels and electron transport through the molecules in vacuum have been computed by an ab initio approach.

Functional molecular wires.

The properties of self-assembled molecules may be tuned by sequentially coupling components on a gold surface, the molecular electronics toolbox of chemically reactive building blocks yielding molecular wires with diode-like current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. The bias for rectification in each case is dependent upon the sequence of electron-donating and electron-accepting moieties and similar behaviour has been achieved for four different contacting techniques.