Charge transfer between two ferrocene groups linked by oligothiophene

Hexyl-sexithiophene and methoxy-terthiophene, derivatives with two terminal ferrocenyl groups were prepared as model compounds for molecular wires. El ectrochemical measurements and absorption spectroscopy were performed to el ucidate the oxidation process and the oxidized states of those model compou nds. The first oxidation of the model compounds takes place on the terminal ferrocene moiety. In the hexyl-sexithiophene derivative, the resultant oxi dized state seeps into the sexithiophene moiety (wire). In the methoxy-tert hiophene derivative, the oxidized species spreads over the entire molecule containing the terthiophene moiety (wire) and the other ferrocene moiety (t erminal), indicating the charge transfer between the terminals via the wire . These conclusions suggest that it is important in the 'molecular wire' ar chitecture to co-ordinate a wire and a terminal. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.