Collective reactivity of molecular chains self-assembled on a surface.
Self-assembly of molecules on surfaces is a route toward not only creating structures, but also engineering chemical reactivity afforded by the intermolecular interactions. Dimethyldisulfide (CH3SSCH3) molecules self-assemble into linear chains on single-crystal gold surfaces. Injecting low-energy electrons into individual molecules in the self-assembled structures with the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope led to a propagating chemical reaction along the molecular chain as sulfur-sulfur bonds were broken and then reformed to produce new CH3SSCH3 molecules. Theoretical and experimental evidence supports a mechanism involving electron attachment followed by dissociation of a CH3SSCH3 molecule and initiation of a chain reaction by one or both of the resulting CH3S intermediates.
Maksymovych
Peter
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Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular and Materials Simulations, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
Sorescu
Dan C
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Jordan
Kenneth D
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Yates
John T
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