On-Surface Intramolecular Reactions

In the past decade, on-surface chemistry has provided fascinating concepts for the construction of covalently bonded molecular nanostructures and the exploration of new synthetic pathways that may be different from chemical synthesis in solution. Although the intermolecular reaction of precursor molecules may lead to the formation of the desired low-dimensional molecular architectures, it remains challenging to realize defect-free syntheses over large areas. Recently, intramolecular on-surface reactions have attracted increasing attention because they offer promising ways to synthesize functional organic molecules, especially those with extended conjugated π-systems. In this Perspective, we summarize the recent achievements in the field of on-surface intramolecular reactions and discuss future prospects.