title: Dissociation and hierarchical assembly of chiral esters on metallic surfaces.
abstract: The interaction of a de novo synthesised ester with single crystal metal surfaces has been investigated as a model system for the heterogeneous hydrogenolysis of esters. Scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements show dissociative adsorption at room temperature on Cu(110) but no significant reaction on Au(111). The dissociative pathway has been identified by comparing with possible fragment species, demonstrating that the ester cleavage occurs along the RCH(CH3)-OC(O)R bond.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moreton
authors.forename: Zhijia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costantini