Controlling coordination reactions and assembly on a Cu(111) supported boron nitride monolayer

We report the formation of a metal-organic network on a BN/Cu(111) template by codeposition of carbonitrile-functionalized porphyrin derivatives (2H-TPCN) with Co atoms in an ultrahigh vacuum environment. The resulting metallo-supramolecular structure explored by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy features a distinct 4-fold coordination motif. Furthermore, we demonstrate an in situ metalation of the tetrapyrrole macrocycles with deposited Co atoms yielding Co-TPCN directly on the BN sheet. Our results provide perspectives for the formation of coordination networks on BN and related systems featuring structural, electronic, and magnetic properties unachievable on metallic supports.