Ferrocenyl derivatives with one, two, or three sulfur-containing arms for self-assembled monolayer formation

Self-assembled monolayers of electroactive molecules can form on gold elect rodes if the molecules include a sulfur-containing group to coordinate with the gold surface. We have prepared a molecule with a tripod of sulfur grou ps that has the potential of fixing the geometry of the molecule relative t o the gold surface. The target (3) contained the good one-electron donor fe rrocene connected through a benzene spacer to an isobutane tripod, with eac h arm of the,tripod ending in a methylthio group. Analogous compounds with one (1) and two (2) coordinating arms were also prepared.