title: Novel cruciform structures as model compounds for coordination induced single molecule switches.
abstract: We have synthesized various molecular cruciforms consisting of two different crossing n-systems and comprising crosswise arranged thiol- and pyridine-anchor groups. With these model compounds we strive towards the investigation of a new switching concept based on the potential dependent coordination of pyridines to gold electrodes in an electrochemical set-up. Integration of these cruciform molecules between both electrodes of a mechanically controlled break junction in a liquid environment gave insight into their single molecule transport properties. These studies allowed individual transport characteristics to be assigned to the bar subunits of the cruciforms but also revealed the remaining experimental challenges to realize the suggested switching concept.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, St. Johanns-Ring 19, CH-4056 Basel.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grunder
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Songmei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schönenberger
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calame
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayor