Stereoelectronic switching in single-molecule junctions
Su TA, Li H, Steigerwald ML, Venkataraman L, Nuckolls C. 2015. Stereoelectronic switching in single-molecule junctions. Nature Chemistry. 7(3), 215–220.
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Journal Article
| Published
| English
Scopus indexed
Author
Su, Timothy A.;
Li, Haixing;
Steigerwald, Michael L.;
Venkataraman, LathaISTA
;
Nuckolls, Colin

Abstract
A new intersection between reaction chemistry and electronic circuitry is emerging from the ultraminiaturization of electronic devices. Over decades chemists have developed a nuanced understanding of stereoelectronics to establish how the electronic properties of molecules relate to their conformation; the recent advent of single-molecule break-junction techniques provides the means to alter this conformation with a level of control previously unimagined. Here we unite these ideas by demonstrating the first single-molecule switch that operates through a stereoelectronic effect. We demonstrate this behaviour in permethyloligosilanes with methylthiomethyl electrode linkers. The strong σ conjugation in the oligosilane backbone couples the stereoelectronic properties of the sulfur–methylene σ bonds that terminate the molecule. Theoretical calculations support the existence of three distinct dihedral conformations that differ drastically in their electronic character. We can shift between these three species by simply lengthening or compressing the molecular junction, and, in doing so, we can switch conductance digitally between two states.
Publishing Year
Date Published
2015-02-16
Journal Title
Nature Chemistry
Publisher
Springer Nature
Volume
7
Issue
3
Page
215-220
ISSN
eISSN
IST-REx-ID
Cite this
Su TA, Li H, Steigerwald ML, Venkataraman L, Nuckolls C. Stereoelectronic switching in single-molecule junctions. Nature Chemistry. 2015;7(3):215-220. doi:10.1038/nchem.2180
Su, T. A., Li, H., Steigerwald, M. L., Venkataraman, L., & Nuckolls, C. (2015). Stereoelectronic switching in single-molecule junctions. Nature Chemistry. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2180
Su, Timothy A., Haixing Li, Michael L. Steigerwald, Latha Venkataraman, and Colin Nuckolls. “Stereoelectronic Switching in Single-Molecule Junctions.” Nature Chemistry. Springer Nature, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.2180.
T. A. Su, H. Li, M. L. Steigerwald, L. Venkataraman, and C. Nuckolls, “Stereoelectronic switching in single-molecule junctions,” Nature Chemistry, vol. 7, no. 3. Springer Nature, pp. 215–220, 2015.
Su TA, Li H, Steigerwald ML, Venkataraman L, Nuckolls C. 2015. Stereoelectronic switching in single-molecule junctions. Nature Chemistry. 7(3), 215–220.
Su, Timothy A., et al. “Stereoelectronic Switching in Single-Molecule Junctions.” Nature Chemistry, vol. 7, no. 3, Springer Nature, 2015, pp. 215–20, doi:10.1038/nchem.2180.
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PMID: 25698330
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