Observation of SOMO-HOMO inversion in a polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbon
Abstract
We report the generation of a non-benzenoid polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbon, which consists of a biphenyl moiety substituted by indenyl units at the 4,4' positions, on ultra-thin sodium chloride films by tip-induced chemistry. Single-molecule characterization by scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy reveals an open-shell biradical ground state, with a peculiar electronic configuration wherein the singly-occupied molecular orbitals (SOMOs) are lower in energy than the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO).
Turn this paper into a full lesson
ArcXiv compiles a staged curriculum from this paper: 8-12 lessons across beginner → advanced, synthesised section guides, visuals, flashcards, a quiz, exercises, and on-demand deep dives per section. Grounded in the abstract, never invented.