On-surface synthesis of Au–C4 and Au–O4 alternately arranged organometallic coordination networks via selective aromatic C–H bond activation.

This article focuses on the selective activation of aromatic C–H bonds facilitated by organometallic coordination networks on metal substrates. The study demonstrates the construction of two-dimensional (2D) organometallic coordination networks composed of alternately arranged Au–C4 and Au–O4 units on a Au(111) surface, achieved via selective ortho C–H bond activation assisted by one-dimensional (1D) C–Au–C organometallic chains. Comparative experiments with Perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) on Au(111) confirm the critical role of gold atoms in promoting C–H activation, while similar Cu–C4 organometallic coordination chains are synthesized on Cu(111), indicating the broader applicability of this strategy. These findings reveal a method for controllable on-surface synthesis of metal–carbon coordination networks with potential implications for single-atom catalysis.