Direct Observation of Chiral Metal-Organic Complexes Assembled on a Cu(100) Surface

Abstract

We report single-molecule level STM observations of chiral complexes generated by the assembly of achiral components at a metal surface. Following co-deposition of iron atoms and 1,3,5-tricarboxylic benzoic acid (trimesic acid, TMA) on Cu(100) in ultrahigh vaccum, TMA molecules react with the metal centers, and metal-ligand interactions stabilize R and S chiral complexes which are clearly distinguished by STM.