Coordination self-assembly of bromo-phenyl and pyridyl functionalized porphyrins with Fe on an Au(111) surface.

Using scanning tunneling microscopy, the coordination self-assembly of a series of peripheral bromo-phenyl and pyridyl substituted porphyrins with Fe was studied on an Au(111) surface. The porphyrins functionalized with two trans-pyridyl groups afford extended hexagonal frameworks and the porphyrins functionalized with three pyridyl groups generate discrete rosette and extended chiral kagome framework structures. The self-assembly of the porphyrin derivatives in which phenyl groups are substituted by bromo-phenyl results in coordination networks exhibiting identical structures to that of the parent compounds. These structures contain nanocavities decorated with Br, which provide potential for covalent functionalization.