Roto-Cyclization of 4-Bromopicene in On-Surface Synthesis

Progress toward single-molecule electronics relies on a thorough understanding of local physico-chemical processes and development of synthetic routines for controlled hetero-coupling. We demonstrate a structurally unexpected ring closure process for a homo-coupled 4,4'-bipicenyl, realized in on-surface synthesis. An initial covalent C-C coupling of 4-bromopicene locks at lower temperatures the position and geometrically shields part of 4,4'-bipicenyl. Employing this effect of shielding might offer a path toward controlled stepwise hetero-coupling. At higher temperatures, a thermally activated three-dimensional rotation upon hydrogen dissociation, a dehydrogenative roto-cyclization, lifts the surface-dimensionality restriction, and leads to the formation of a perylene. Thereby, the shielded molecular part becomes accessible again.