Manganese Phthalocyanine Derivatives Synthesized by On-Surface Cyclotetramerization

We report a two-step on-surface synthesis of Mn phthalocyanine molecules from four tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) monomers through coordinative bonding with manganese adatoms. In the first step, the coevaporation of TCNB and Mn atoms leads to a metal–organic network stabilized by a combination of coordination and hydrogen (H) bonds. In the second step, annealing the coordination networks above room temperature results in individual Mn phthalocyanine molecules. The results shown here demonstrate the viability of an on-surface chemical synthesis strategy involving the reduction of the organic reagents by metal ions to produce metal–organic molecules.