Molecular structure of ferrocenethiol islands embedded into alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers by UHV-STM

[11‐(Acetylthio)‐1‐oxoundecyl]‐ferrocene and 1,1″‐Dithiobis‐ferrocene are inserted into alkanethiolate self‐assembled monolayers from solution. Upon annealing, the inserted molecules form separated domains, which protrude as islands from the surrounding monolayer. The resulting thin‐films are studied by UHV‐STM. For both compounds the density of the molecules in close packed SAMs is determined. Furthermore for ferroceneundecanethiols the molecular structure and orientation of the endgroups is resolved. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)