On-surface chemical reactions on single molecules leads to fundamental chemical insights, such as better understanding bond-order relationships in reaction intermediates and products. Here, based on high-resolution atomic force microscopy/scanning tunnelling microscopy experiments, we will demonstrate the power of atom manipulation in two contexts: on conductive and on non-conductive substrates. On conductive substrates we will show how atom manipulation can generate a Diels-Alder reaction and couple terminal alkynes, on non-conductive substrates we will demonstrate how controlling the charge state of individual molecules can promote the reversible dissociation of a single molecule.
