STM Investigation on the Formation of Oligoamides on Au{111} by Surface-Confined Reactions of Melamine with Trimesoyl Chloride

The surface-confined coupling reaction between melamine (1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine) and trimesoyl chloride has been investigated on Au{111} by scanning tunneling microscopy. The reaction proceeds at room temperature with the formation of new diamide species at the boundaries between melamine domains. Annealing results in the production of longer oligoamides and the transformation of the melamine phase into a more tightly packed phase which has not been previously reported on Au{111} in ultrahigh vacuum experiments. The factors which may affect the formation of this phase are discussed.