Phenyl rings provide a robust scaffold for molecular design, given the limited number of ring carbon atoms and the fixed geometry in between. However, it can be difficult to form highly substituted phenyl rings suitable for covalent attachment of multiple moieties thereto. Moreover, binding phenyl rings to a surface in a fixed geometry may be difficult. Hexasubstituted benzenes having certain structural features may alleviate the foregoing difficulties by providing versatile groups for further functionalization and surface attachment. Such hexasubstituted benzenes may have a structure of in which each X is independently Cl, Br or N3, and each Z is independently —CH(Br)CH3, —CH(N3)CH3, —CH═CH2, —CH2CH3, —CH2CH2SiR′3 (R′=hydrocarbyl), or Alternating groups in the hexasubstituted benzenes may be directed toward opposite faces of the phenyl ring, such that orthogonal reactive groups are directed toward the opposite faces. Certain groups may facilitate surface attachment of the hexasubstituted benzenes.