A two-dimensional crystal formed by pentamers on Au(111)

A new type of two-dimensional crystal comprising supramolecular pentamers on Au(111) is studied using an ultra-high vacuum low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscope. (2E,4E)-3-Methyl-5-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl)penta-2,4-dienoic acid molecules form pentamers through five-fold O⋯H–O hydrogen bonds. In ordered arrays, pentamers interact with each other via van der Waals interactions. The impacts of different annealing temperatures and substrates on the formation of pentamer patterns are systemically investigated.