単分子エレクトロニクスに向けた新規な機能性ユニットの設計と開発

Abstract

Single-molecule electronics have attracted a great deal of attention in terms of the bottom-up construction and ultimate miniaturization of electronics. Development of novel materials for this application has become an active area of research. We have designed and synthesized new π-conjugated systems for the use in “anchor” and “insulated molecular wire” units, which are essential components of single-molecule electronics. The tetraphenylmethane-based tripodal structures with anchoring functional groups were developed to function as anchor units, that is, these molecules fulfill not only the electronic communication between electrodes and molecules but also robust attachment to electrodes with controlling the molecular orientation. Structurally well-defined oligothiophenes were utilized as a key framework of molecular wires. The combination of cyclopenta [c] thiohene with orthogonally introduced bulky substituents accomplished the encapsulation of derived oligothiophene backbones without disturbing effective conjugation, leading to the construction of insulated molecular wires.