Extended metal atom chains

Extended metal atom chains (EMACs) are molecules that consist of a linear string of directly bonded metal atoms, surrounded by organic ligands. These compounds represent the smallest molecular wires. Although such species have no applications, they are researched for the bottom-up approach to nanoelectronics. Extended metal atom chains (EMACs) are molecules that consist of a linear string of directly bonded metal atoms, surrounded by organic ligands. These compounds represent the smallest molecular wires. Although such species have no applications, they are researched for the bottom-up approach to nanoelectronics. An EMAC molecule contains a linear string of transition metals (typically Cr, Co, Ni, or Cu) that are bonded to each other and are surrounded helically by four long organic ligands. The metal chains are capped at the ends by anions, usually halides. The four organic ligands are made of repeating pyridylamido units, which contain nitrogen donor atoms. Each metal atom is six-coordinate, bonded to two other metals along the axis of the molecule (except terminal metals, which are bonded to one metal and one capping anion) and to four nitrogen atoms perpendicular to the axis.