High-Conductance Pathways in Ring-Strained Disilanes by Way of Direct σ-Si-Si to Au Coordination

A highly conducting electronic contact between a strained disilane and Au is demonstrated through scanning tunneling microscope-based single molecule measurements. Conformationally locked cis diastereomers of bis(sulfide)-anchor-equipped 1,2-disilaa-cenaphthenes readily form high-conducting junctions in which the two sulfide anchors bind in a bipodal fashion to one gold electrode, providing enough stability for a stable electrical contact between the Si-Si sigma bond and the other electrode.