Directing On‐Surface Reaction Pathways via Metal‐Organic Cu−N Coordination

We demonstrate an enhancement of cyclization against polymerization for the on‐surface debrominative coupling reaction, by using the metal‐organic Cu−N coordination template to direct the reaction pathways. Experiments performed by using ultrahigh‐vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy (UHV‐STM), with the substitution of metal‐coordination centers, metallic substrates and functional organic ligands, corroborate the template effect of the Cu−N coordination. Cyclization vs polymerization: Using the metal‐organic Cu−N coordination as a template, the authors have realized an enhancement of cyclization against polymerization for an on‐surface debrominative aryl‐aryl coupling reaction, achieving a high yield of the macrocyclic product.