- Yang, Chen;
- Liu, Zitong;
- Li, Yanwei;
- Zhou, Shuyao;
- Lu, Chenxi;
- Guo, Yilin;
- Ramirez, Melissa;
- Zhang, Qingzhu;
- Li, Yu;
- Liu, Zhirong;
- Houk, KN;
- Zhang, Deqing;
- Guo, Xuefeng
Precise time trajectories and detailed reaction pathways of the Diels-Alder reaction were directly observed using accurate single-molecule detection on an in situ label-free single-molecule electrical detection platform. This study demonstrates the well-accepted concerted mechanism and clarifies the role of charge transfer complexes with endo or exo configurations on the reaction path. An unprecedented stepwise pathway was verified at high temperatures in a high-voltage electric field. Experiments and theoretical results revealed an electric field-catalyzed mechanism that shows the presence of a zwitterionic intermediate with one bond formation and variation of concerted and stepwise reactions by the strength of the electric field, thus establishing a previously unidentified approach for mechanistic control by electric field catalysis.