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Precisely introducing topological defects is an important strategy in nanographene crystal engineering because defects can tune π‐electronic structures and control molecular assemblies. The synergistic control of the synthesis and assembly of nanographenes by embedding the topological defects to afford two‐dimensional (2D) crystals on surfaces is still a great challenge. By in‐situ embedding ladder bipyrazinylene (LBPy) into acene, the narrowest nanographene with zigzag edges, we have achieved the precise preparation of 2D nonbenzenoid heteroacene crystals on Au(111). Through intramolecular electrocyclization of o‐diisocyanides and Au adatom‐directed [2+2] cycloaddition, the nonbenzenoid heteroacene products are produced with high chemoselectivity, and lead to the molecular 2D assembly via LBPy‐derived interlocking hydrogen bonds. Using bond‐resolved scanning tunneling microscopy, we determined the atomic structures of the nonbenzenoid heteroacene product and diverse organometallic intermediates. The tunneling spectroscopy measurements revealed the electronic structure of the nonbenzenoid heteroacene, which is supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The observed distinct organometallic intermediates during progression annealing combined with DFT calculations demonstrated that LBPy formation proceeds via electrocyclization of o‐diisocyanides, trapping of heteroarynes by Au adatoms, and stepwise elimination of Au adatoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although post‐functionalization is extensively used to introduce diverse functional groups into supramolecular polymers (SPs) in solution, post‐functionalization of SPs on surfaces still remains unexplored. Here we achieved the on‐surface post‐functionalization of two SPs derived from 5,10,15‐tri‐(4‐pyridyl)‐20‐bromophenyl porphyrin (Br‐TPyP) via cross‐coupling reactions on Au(111). The ladder‐shaped, Cu‐coordinated SPs preformed from Br‐TPyP were functionalized through Heck reaction with 4‐vinyl‐1,1′‐biphenyl. In the absence of Cu, Br‐TPyP formed chiral SPs as two enantiomers via self‐assembly, which were functionalized via divergent cross‐coupling reaction with 4‐isocyano‐1,1′‐biphenyl (ICBP). Surprisingly, this reaction was discovered as an enantioselective on‐surface reaction induced by the chirality of SPs. Mechanistic analysis and DFT calculations indicated that after debromination of Br‐TPyP and the first addition of ICBP, only one attack direction of ICBP to the chiral SP intermediate is permissive in the second addition step due to the steric hindrance, which guaranteed the high enantioselectivity of the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-coupling is of great importance in organic synthesis. Here it is demonstrated that cross-coupling of aryl-bromide and porphyrin-bromide takes place on a Au(111) surface in vacuo. The products are oligomers consisting of porphyrin moieties linked by p-phenylene at porphyrin's meso-positions. The ratio of the cross-coupled versus homocoupled bonds can be regulated by the reactant concentrations. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations were applied to determine the activation barrier. It is expected that this reaction can be employed in other aryl-bromide precursors for designing alternating co-polymers incorporating porphyrin and other functional moieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]