Chiral expression of adsorbed (MP) 5-amino[6]helicenes: from random structures to dense racemic crystals by surface alloying.

The chiral expression of a molecule on a surface is driven from a random solid solution on Cu(100) to a racemic crystal on a Sn/Cu(100) alloy. Density functional theory simulations reveal how the growth of the racemate is influenced by the underlying surface.

Synthesis, Properties, and Two-Dimensional Adsorption Characteristics of 5-Amino[6]hexahelicene.

A convergent synthesis of racemic 5-amino[6]hexahelicene is described. Cross-coupling reactions are used to assemble a pentacyclic framework, and a metal-catalyzed ring-closure comprises the final step. The enantiomers were separated by means of chromatography and the absolute configurations were assigned by comparison of the CD spectra with hexahelicene.

Van der Waals interactions in the self-assembly of 5-amino[6]helicene on Cu(100) and Au(111).

A combination of Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy and Density Functional Theory simulations highlights the role of van der Waals interactions in the self-assembly of an aminohelicene on Cu(100) and Au(111).

Electrochemical self-assembly of alkanethiolate molecules on Ni(111) and polycrystalline Ni surfaces.

In this work, the electrochemical formation of alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Ni(111) and polycrystalline Ni surfaces from alkanethiol-containing aqueous 1 M NaOH solutions was studied by combining Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemical techniques, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Results show that alkanethiolates adsorb on Ni concurrent with NiO electroreduction. The resulting surface coverage depends on the applied potential and hydrocarbon chain length.