9,10-Dibromoanthracene is an organic chemical compound containing anthracene with two bromine atoms substituted on its central ring. It is notable in that it was the first single molecule to have a chemical reaction observed by an atomic force microscope and scanning tunneling microscopy.[1]
Ian M. Heilbron and John S. Heaton were the first to synthesize this in 1923 in England.[1]
9,10-Dibromoanthracene is electroluminescent, giving off a blue light.[2]
The carbon–bromine bonds can be fragmented in two successive steps by voltage pulses from tip of a scanning tunneling microscope. The resulting carbon radicals are stabilized by the sodium chloride substrate on which the 9,10-dibromoanthracene reactant was placed. Further voltage pulses cause the diradical to convert to a diyne (or back again) via a Bergman cyclization reaction.[3]