On-Surface Synthesis of Phthalocyanine Compounds

In this chapter, we review the recent progress in the synthesis of phthalocyanine compounds at metallic surfaces under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Starting with tetra-carbonitrile-benzene molecules and magnetic atoms such as iron and manganese, we show that metal-organic coordination networks are formed at room temperature; then annealing at 500-600 K leads to the on-surface formation of phthalocyanine compounds. This reaction has been studied step-by-step by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. The last part of this chapter is dedicated to the study of larger precursors functionalized with tetra-carbonitrile groups that react with copper atoms to form original polymers linked by phthalocyanine cores.