  We demonstrate that cyclooctatetraene (COT) can be stabilised in different
conformations when adsorbed on different noble-metal surfaces due to varying
molecule-substrate interaction. While at first glance the behaviour seems to be
in accordance with H\"uckel's rule, a theoretical analysis reveals no
significant charge transfer. The driving mechanism for the conformational
change is hybridisation at the organic-metal interface and does not necessitate
any charge transfer.
