On-Surface Synthesis of Polyene-Linked Porphyrin Cooligomer

Abstract

π-Conjugated molecules are viewed as fundamental components in forthcoming molecular nanoelectronics in which semiconducting functional units are linked to each other via metallic molecular wires. However, it is still challenging to construct such block cooligomers on the surface. Here, we present a synthesis of [18]-polyene-linked Zn-porphyrin cooligomers via a two-step reaction of the alkyl groups on Cu(111) and Cu(110). Nonyl groups (−C₉H₁₉) substituted at the 5,15-meso positions of Zn-porphyrin were first transformed to alkenyl groups (−C₉H₁₀) by dehydrogenation. Subsequently, homocoupling of the terminal −CH₂ groups resulted in the formation of extended [18]-polyene-linked porphyrin cooligomers. The structures of the products at each reaction step were investigated by bond-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy at low temperatures. A combination of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations revealed the metallic property of the all trans [18]-polyene linker on Cu(110). This finding may provide an approach to fabricate complex nanocarbon structures on the surface.