Synthesis of Tridecacene by Multistep Single-Molecule Manipulation.

Acenes represent a unique class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that have fascinated chemists and physicists due to their exceptional potential for use in organic electronics. While recent advances in on-surface synthesis have resulted in higher acenes up to dodecacene, a comprehensive understanding of their fundamental properties necessitates their expansion toward even longer homologues. Here, we demonstrate the on-surface synthesis of tridecacene via atom-manipulation-induced conformational preparation and dissociation of a trietheno-bridged precursor on a Au(111) surface.