Removing the Destructive Quantum Interference in Cross Conjugation System by Structural Restraint

Understanding the quantum effect in the cross-conjugated system is of fundamental significance in molecular electronics. In this study, four molecules Xa-O, Xa, BP and BP-O were synthesized to investigate the destructive quantum interference(DQI) of a carbonyl bridge. The single-molecule conductance measured by the scanning tunneling microscope break junction(STM-BJ) technique demonstrates an increase in the conductance from molecule BP-O to molecule Xa-O as the cross-conjugated system is extended. Theoretical calculations show that the explicit DQI feature is presented in BP-O but absent in Xa-O, which indicates the removal of DQI in the restrained structures and results in the conductance enhancement in Xa-O.