On-surface Ullmann coupling is a versatile and appropriate approach for the bottom-up fabrication of covalent organic nanostructures. In two-dimensional networks, however, the kinetically controlled and irreversible coupling leads to high defect densities and a lack of long-range order. To derive general guidelines for optimizing reaction parameters, the structural quality of 2D porous covalent networks was evaluated for different preparation protocols. For this purpose, polymerization of an iodine- and bromine-functionalized precursor was studied on Au(111) by scanning tunneling microscopy under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. By taking advantage of the vastly different temperature thresholds for C-Br and C-I cleavage, two different polymerization routes were compared - hierarchical and direct polymerization. The structural quality of the covalent networks was evaluated for different reaction parameters, such as surface temperatures, heating rates, and deposition rates by statistical analysis of STM data. Experimental results are compared to Monte Carlo simulations.

The role of organometallic intermediates during on-surface polymerization via Ullmann coupling was studied on Ag(111). The polymerization progress was monitored by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) was used to characterize organometallic and covalent networks and to identify the temperature regimes for organometallic and covalent bond formation.

The self-assembly of a well-defined and astutely designed, low-molecular weight gelator (LMWG) based linker with a suitable metal ion is a promising method for preparing photocatalytically active coordination polymer gels. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and gelation behaviour of a tetrapodal LMWG based on a porphyrin core connected to four terpyridine units (TPY-POR) through amide linkages. The self-assembly of TPY-POR LMWG with Ru II ions results in a Ru-TPY-POR coordination polymer gel (CPG), with a nanoscroll morphology. Ru-TPY-POR CPG exhibits efficient CO 2 photoreduction to CO (3.5 mmol g À 1 h À 1 ) with > 99 % selectivity in the presence of triethylamine (TEA) as a sacrificial electron donor. Interestingly, in the presence of 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) with TEA as the sacrificial electron donor, the 8e À /8H + photoreduction of CO 2 to CH 4 is realized with > 95 % selectivity (6.7 mmol g À 1 h À 1 ). In CPG, porphyrin acts as a photosensitizer and covalently attached [Ru(TPY) 2 ] 2 + acts as a catalytic center as demonstrated by femtosecond transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. Further, combining information from the in situ DRIFT spectroscopy and DFT calculation, a possible reaction mechanism for CO 2 reduction to CO and CH 4 was outlined.

The on-surface synthesis of covalent organic nanosheets driven by reactive metal surfaces leads to strongly adsorbed organic nanostructures, which conceals their intrinsic properties. Hence, reducing the electronic coupling between the organic networks and commonly used metal surfaces is an important step towards characterization of the true material. We demonstrate that post-synthetic exposure to iodine vapor leads to the intercalation of an iodine monolayer between covalent polyphenylene networks and Ag(111) surfaces. The experimentally observed changes from surface-bound to detached nanosheets are reproduced by DFT simulations. These findings suggest that the intercalation of iodine provides a material that shows geometric and electronic properties substantially closer to those of the freestanding network.

We report the design and synthesis of two Co2+ and Zn2+ phthalocyanine (PC)-based redox active metal-organic conjugated microporous polymers (MO-CMP), CoCMP and ZnCMP, respectively, obtained by a Schiff base condensation reaction. CoCMP, where Co2+ is stabilized by N4-coordination of PC, has shown stable and efficient electrocatalytic activity towards the OER with a low overpotential of 340 mV.

Two new ruthenium complexes [Ru(bipy)(2)(PDA)](2+) (1) and [Ru(phen)(2)(PDA)](2+) (2) (PDA = 1,10-phenanthroline-4,7-dicarboxaldehyde) have been synthesized to detect cyanide based on the well-known formation of cyanohydrins. Both 1[PF(6)](2) and 2[PF(6)](2) were fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and their solid state structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their anion binding properties in pure and aqueous acetonitrile were thoroughly examined using two different channels, i.e., UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL). After addition of only 2 equiv of CN(-), the PL intensity of 1[PF(6)](2) and 2[PF(6)](2) was enhanced ∼55-fold within 15 s along with a diagnostic blue shift of the emission by more than 100 nm. PL titrations of 1[PF(6)](2) and 2[PF(6)](2) with CN(-) in CH(3)CN furnished the very high overall cyanohydrin formation constants log β([CN(-)]) = 15.36 ± 0.44 (β([CN(-)]) = 2.3 × 10(15) M(-2)) and log β([CN(-)]) = 16.37 ± 0.53 (β([CN(-)]) = 2.3 × 10(16) M(-2)), respectively. For both probes, the second constant, K(2), is about 57-84 times less than K(1), suggesting that the cyanohydrin reaction is stepwise. The stepwise mechanism is further supported by results of a (1)H NMR titration of 2[PF(6)](2) with CN(-). The high selectivity of 2[PF(6)](2) for CN(-) was established by PL in the presence of other competing anions. Furthermore, the color change from orange-red to yellow and the appearance of a orange luminescence, which can be observed by the naked eye, provides a simple real-time method for cyanide detection. Finally, theoretical calculations were carried out to elucidate the details of the electronic structure and transitions involved in the ruthenium probes and their cyanide adducts.

A simple approach toward preparation of heteroleptic two-dimensional (2D) rectangles and three-dimensional (3D) triangular prisms is described utilizing the HETPYP (HETeroleptic PYridyl and Phenanthroline metal complexes) concept. By mixing metal-loaded linear bisphenanthrolines of varying lengths with diverse (multi)pyridine (py) ligands in a proper ratio, six different self-assembled architectures arise cleanly and spontaneously in the absence of any template. They are characterized by (1)H and DOSY NMR, ESI-FT-ICR mass spectrometry as well as by Job plots and UV-vis titrations. Density functional theory (DFT) computations provide information about each structure. A stoichiometry-controlled supramolecule-to-supramolecule interconversion based on the relative amounts of metal bisphenanthroline and bipyridine forces the rectangular assembly to reorganize to a rack architecture and back to the rectangle, as clearly supported by variable temperature and DOSY NMR as well as dynamic light scattering data. The highly dynamic nature of the assemblies represents a promising starting point for constitutional dynamic materials.

The heteroleptic supramolecular double-decker porphyrin 1 was synthesized with DABCO as a guest between two cofacial porphyrin units as characterized by (1)H NMR and ESI-MS. While DABCO is not seen to tumble inside the cavity, even at higher temperatures (80 °C), such motion was triggered upon addition of various coordinating ligands (quinuclidine, 4-bromopyridine, or excess of DABCO). Different stoichiometric amounts were needed depending on the n donor quality of the added ligands to initiate tumbling of the "inside" DABCO. As demonstrated in an example with excess DABCO, the tumbling was stopped by lowering the temperature to -50 °C.