Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Intermolecular frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) play vital roles in catalysis yet remain undetectable at the single‐molecule scale due to their ultralow interaction energies and transient nature. This limitation obstructs mechanistic understanding of weak orbital coupling in molecular systems. To address this, we engineered a sterically hindered molecular probe ( OPE‐Py‐M ) that forms stable in situ FLP adducts with B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 ( BCF ) within single‐molecule junctions. Using scanning tunneling microscopy break junction (STM‐BJ) techniques, we observed a quantifiable conductance attenuation from 10 −4.39 to 10 −4.78 G 0 upon FLP formation, a signature validated by NMR upfield shifts and UV‐Vis charge‐transfer bands. This work establishes single‐molecule conductance as an ultrasensitive probe for orbital perturbations below hydrogen‐bond energy thresholds, enabling unprecedented investigation of noncovalent interactions in molecular electronics and self‐assembly.
Source: Chemistry - A European Journal
Authors: Yalin Xing, Haoran Sun, Jiahong Hu, Hu Zhang, Wei Liu, Xunshan Liu
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4415604229