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Notes and references
{ The bpy samples were synthesized by a previous method6 besides the
alkyl chain part, for which appropriate compounds were selected to prepare
the samples with various alkyl chain lengths. Prior to STM imaging, bpy
was dissolved in 1-phenyloctane with a concentration below 0.1 mM. For
the metal coordination experiment, bpy and excess Pd(CH3CN)2Cl2 were
separately dissolved in CH2Cl2, and the solutions were mixed together to
disperse in 1-phenyloctane. A drop of the solution was placed on HOPG to
obtain a self-assembled monolayer. Low-current STM (Veeco, Nanoscope
IIIa) was operated in the constant current mode at the HOPG/1-
phenyloctane interface using a mechanically cut Pt/Ir wire (80/20).
§ In Fig. 2(D), the shaded alkyl chain is thought to dangle into the solvent.
The vacancy seen between the alkyl chain rows may be filled with
coadsorbed solvent molecules.
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Chem. Commun., 2007, 1343–1345 | 1345