One-step covalent grafting of Fe4 single-molecule magnet monolayers on gold

Iron(III)-based single-molecule magnets have been covalently grafted on Au(111) in one step using 1,2-dithiolan-3-yl side groups. Reaction with the substrate quantitatively affords a monolayer of electronically intact clusters doubly linked to the surface via Au–S bonds, as demonstrated by a combination of STM, XAS/XMCD and XPS studies.