Dynamic Regulation of Adaptive Butterfly‐Shaped Molecules via B←N Coordination

B Boyu Wang (Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China) Y Yani Huo (Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China) C Cheng Chen X Xiao‐Ye Wang (State Key Laboratory of Elemento‐Organic Chemistry Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations College of Chemistry Nankai University Tianjin 300071 P.R. China) C Chuancheng Jia (Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China) J Jinying Wang (Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China) X Xuefeng Guo (State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Catalysis and Intelligent Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering)

Abstract

Abstract Achieving dynamic control over stereostructures and electronic properties of rigid molecules remains a significant challenge due to the delicate balance between stability and flexibility. Here, the construction of butterfly‐shaped molecular junctions stabilized by moderate‐strength boron‐nitrogen (B←N) coordination between boraacenes and pyridines is reported. By leveraging the pivot‐like flexibility of B←N bonds, molecular conductance switching with on/off ratios exceeding 100 is achieved through force‐driven dynamic transitions between distinct stacking conformations. Single‐molecule electrical measurements combined with first‐principle calculations identify distinct charge transport mechanisms—through‐space and through‐bond—associated with the butterfly‐wing open and closed configurations. Furthermore, external factors like electric fields and substituent effects modulate π – π interactions and charge transport properties. The introduction of destructive quantum interference effects can be achieved by replacing molecular units. The findings demonstrate that B←N coordination serves as a dynamically tunable linkage, offering a pathway to design molecular platforms with multifunctional units, customized stereo‐conformations, and quantum effects.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 38, Issue 1
Published January 01, 2026
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

B

Boyu Wang

Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China

Y

Yani Huo

Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-Scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China

C

Cheng Chen

X

Xiao‐Ye Wang

State Key Laboratory of Elemento‐Organic Chemistry Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations College of Chemistry Nankai University Tianjin 300071 P.R. China

C

Chuancheng Jia

Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China

J

Jinying Wang

Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China

X

Xuefeng Guo

State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Catalysis and Intelligent Green Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering