On-Surface Synthesis of Open-Shell Nanographenes through the π-Extension of DibenzoHi,StOvalene

Graphene nanostructures are attracting attentions for their intriguing optical, electronic, and magnetic properties that are critically dependent on their chemical structures. Whereas it is challenging to obtain atomically precise structures by typical top-down fabrication methods, such as lithographic patterning of graphene and unzipping of carbon nanotubes, bottom-up synthesis enables the preparation of molecular nanographenes and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with pre-designed structures. In addition to the solution synthesis based on the methods of synthetic organic chemistry, such graphene nanostructures can also be synthesized on metal surfaces under ultrahigh vacuum conditions and directly visualized by atomic resolution scanning probe microscopy (SPM) 1. Using carefully designed and solution-synthesized molecular precursors, this on-surface synthesis method can provide various nanographenes, including the structures that are highly unstable under ambient conditions. We have previously developed the solution synthesis of dibenzo hi , st ovalene (DBOV) with strong red fluorescence 2, and achieved its π-extension to circumpyrene 3. Following the successful synthesis of rhombus-shaped nanographenes with four zigzag edges, showing a closed-shell or an open-shell depending on the size 4, we functionalized DBOV and circumpyrene with two 2,6-dimethylphenyl groups for their on-surface π-extension to unprecedented zigzag-edged nanographenes. The resulting structures were clearly visualized by scanning tunneling microcopy and their open-shell characters were indicated by theoretical and experimental investigations, revealing large magnetic exchange couplings of up to 190 meV 5. We have more recently also achieved further π-extension of these open-shell nanographenes on surface and obtained initial results for their polymerization. 1 Chen, Z.; Narita, A.; Müllen, K.; Adv. Mater. 2020 , 32 , 2001893. 2 Paternò, G. M.; Chen, Q.; Wang, X.-Y.; Liu, J.; Motti, S. G.; Petrozza, A.; Feng, X.; Lanzani, G.; Müllen, K.; Narita, A.; Scotognella, F., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56 , 6753–6757. 3 Chen, Q.; Schollmeyer, D.; Müllen, K.; Narita, A., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019 , 141 , 19994–19999. 4 Mishra, S.; Yao, X.; Chen, Q.; Eimre, K.; Gröning, O.; Ortiz, R.; Di Giovannantonio, M.; Sancho-García, J. C.; Fernández-Rossier, J.; Pignedoli, C. A.; Müllen, K.; Ruffieux, P.; Narita, A.; Fasel, R.; Nat. Chem . 2021 , 13 , 581. 5 Biswas, K.; Soler, D.; Mishra, S.; Chen, Q.; Yao, X.; Sánchez-Grande, A.; Eimre, K.; Mutombo, P.; Martín-Fuentes, C.; Lauwaet, K.; Gallego, J. M.; Ruffieux, P.; Pignedoli, C. A.; Müllen, K.; Miranda, R.; Urgel, J. I.; Narita, A.; Fasel, R.; Jelínek, P.; Écija, D. J. Am. Chem. Soc . 2023 , 145 , 2968–2974.