Publication detail

Monitoring On-Surface Chemical Reactions by Low-Energy Electron Microscopy: from Conformation Change to Ring Closure in 2D Molecular Gas

Prochazka, P. Frezza, F. Sánchez-Grande, A. Carrera, M. Chen, QF. Stará, V. Kurowská, A. Curiel, D. Jelínek, P. Cechal, J.

Original Title

Monitoring On-Surface Chemical Reactions by Low-Energy Electron Microscopy: from Conformation Change to Ring Closure in 2D Molecular Gas

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

On-surface synthesis is a promising strategy for the preparation of molecules that are not achievable otherwise. Understanding the mechanism of on-surface reactions requires knowledge of the molecular structure and possible organization of reactants into supramolecular assemblies during the reaction. Scanning probe techniques are essential for the unambiguous identification of the products and for determining their electronic and magnetic properties. However, these are generally not capable of imaging the surface at reaction conditions and, therefore, answering some of the key questions about the reaction mechanism. Here, we show that real-time low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) can monitor the surface processes in real time and provide the necessary complementary mechanistic insights into on-surface reactions. We monitor the intramolecular ring-closure reaction of 1,3,5-tris(7-methyl-alpha-carbolin-6-yl)benzene on the Au(111) surface and show that it takes place in the 2D molecular gas phase at elevated temperatures. Products condense into separate islands upon cooling, enabling fast and efficient assessment of product yields. This makes LEEM an efficient tool for studying intramolecular chemical reactions.

Keywords

On-Surface Synthesis; Low-Energy Electron Microscopy; Chirality; Scanning Probe Microscopy

Authors

Prochazka, P.; Frezza, F.; Sánchez-Grande, A.; Carrera, M.; Chen, QF.; Stará, V.; Kurowská, A.; Curiel, D.; Jelínek, P.; Cechal, J.

Released

4. 4. 2025

Publisher

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

Location

WEINHEIM

ISBN

1521-3765

Periodical

Chemistry - A European Journal

Year of study

31

Number

20

State

Federal Republic of Germany

Pages count

6

URL

https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.202500561

BibTex

@article{BUT197907,
  author="Pavel {Procházka} and Veronika {Stará} and Anna {Kurowská} and Jan {Čechal} and Federico {Frezza} and Ana {Sanchez-Grande} and Manuel {Carrera} and Qifan {Chen} and David {Curiel} and Pavel {Jelínek}",
  title="Monitoring On-Surface Chemical Reactions by Low-Energy Electron Microscopy: from Conformation Change to Ring Closure in 2D Molecular Gas",
  journal="Chemistry - A European Journal",
  year="2025",
  volume="31",
  number="20",
  pages="6",
  doi="10.1002/chem.202500561",
  issn="1521-3765",
  url="https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.202500561"
}