Switching the chirality of single adsorbate complexes

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2009;48(22):4065-8. doi: 10.1002/anie.200805740.

Abstract

Pumped up: Propene molecules form chiral complexes when adsorbed on a copper surface. Inelastically scattered tunneling electrons from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope induce rotation or diffusion of the adsorbate on the surface. Higher tunneling currents can lead to conversion of the adsorbate into the opposite enantiomer.