Ordered Nanostructures of a [2]Catenane Through Self-Assembly at Surfaces—An STM Study With Sub-Molecular Resolution

Model molecular machines can be prepared in solution; their requirements are still more restrictive when anchored onto a surface. Large two-dimensional crystals of [2]catenane were formed on HOPG through self-assembly--the picture shows a 15×15 nm(2) STM image of the surface-bound structure. A comparison with related surface-bound compounds by STM gave insight into the structural requirements for such self-assembly.