Ullmann coupling is the most common approach to form surface-confined one- and two-dimensional conjugated structures from haloaryl derivatives. The dimensions of the formed nanostructures can be controlled by the number and location of halogens within the molecular precursors. Our study illustrates that the type of halogen plays an essential role in the design, orientation, and extent of the surface-confined organometallic and polymeric nanostructures. We performed a comparative analysis of five 1,4-dihalobenzene molecules containing chlorine, bromine, and iodine on Cu(110) using scanning tunneling microscopy, fast-X-ray photoelectron and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopies. Our experimental data identify different molecular structures, reaction temperatures and kinetics depending on the halogen type. Climbing image nudged elastic band simulations further clarify these observations by providing distinct diffusion paths for each halogen species. We show that in addition to the structure of the building blocks, the halogen type has a direct influence on the morphology of surface-confined polymeric structures based on Ullmann coupling.

Catechols are ubiquitous substances often acting as antioxidants, thus of importance in a variety of biological processes. The Fenton and Haber–Weiss processes are thought to transform these molecules into aggressive reactive oxygen species (ROS), a source of oxidative stress and possibly inducing degenerative diseases. Here, using model conditions (ultrahigh vacuum and single crystals), we unveil another process capable of converting catechols into ROSs, namely an intramolecular redox reaction catalysed by a Cu surface. We focus on a tri-catechol, the hexahydroxytriphenylene molecule, and show that this antioxidant is thereby transformed into a semiquinone, as an intermediate product, and then into an even stronger oxidant, a quinone, as final product. We argue that the transformations occur via two intramolecular redox reactions: since the Cu surface cannot oxidise the molecules, the starting catechol and the semiquinone forms each are, at the same time, self-oxidised and self-reduced. Thanks to these reactions, the quinone and semiquinone are able to interact with the substrate by readily accepting electrons donated by the substrate. Our combined experimental surface science and ab initio analysis highlights the key role played by metal nanoparticles in the development of degenerative diseases.

The synthesis of a 2D boroxine covalent framework is described, which exhibits promising morphological and electronic properties.

Molecular interfaces formed between metals and molecular compounds offer a great potential as building blocks for future opto‐electronics and spintronics devices. Here, a combined theoretical and experimental spectro‐microscopy approach is used to show that the charge transfer occurring at the interface between nickel tetraphenyl porphyrins and copper changes both spin and oxidation states of the Ni ion from [Ni(II), S = 0] to [Ni(I), S = 1/2]. The chemically active Ni(I), even in a buried multilayer system, can be functionalized with nitrogen dioxide, allowing a selective tuning of the electronic properties of the Ni center that is switched to a [Ni(II), S = 1] state. While Ni acts as a reversible spin switch, it is found that the electronic structure of the macrocycle backbone, where the frontier orbitals are mainly localized, remains unaffected. These findings pave the way for using the present porphyrin‐based system as a platform for the realization of multifunctional devices where the magnetism and the optical/transport properties can be controlled simultaneously by independent stimuli.