title: Extremely strong self-assembly of a bimetallic salen complex visualized at the single-molecule level.
abstract: A bis-Zn(salphen) structure shows extremely strong self-assembly both in solution as well as at the solid-liquid interface as evidenced by scanning tunneling microscopy, competitive UV-vis and fluorescence titrations, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. Density functional theory analysis on the Zn(2) complex rationalizes the very high stability of the self-assembled structures provoked by unusual oligomeric (Zn-O)(n) coordination motifs within the assembly. This coordination mode is strikingly different when compared with mononuclear Zn(salphen) analogues that form dimeric structures having a typical Zn(2)O(2) central unit. The high stability of the multinuclear structure therefore holds great promise for the development of stable self-assembled monolayers with potential for new opto-electronic materials.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, Av. Països Catalans 16, 43007, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salassa
authors.forename: Michiel J J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.forename: Sander J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wezenberg
authors.forename: Bas L M
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hendriksen
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Speller
authors.forename: Johannes A A W
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Elemans
authors.forename: Arjan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kleij