Methyl-terminated alkanethiols, such as 1-undecanethiol are used for the production of hydrophobic SAMs. It can also be used in mixed SAMs to give a hydrophobic background and to space other functional groups farther apart. These well ordered monolayers formed from 1-undecanethiol give water contact angles similar to Teflon^TM of close to 115° (R. Colorado, T.R. Randall Langmuir 2003, 19, 3288-3296).