The interest arises from the potential use of such systems as molecular wires on integrated molecular-sized devices and, from a theoretical point of view, to study the role of the various parameters governing the intramolecular electron transfer rate. A prime objective of our research has been the synthesis and characterization or pure organic analogues of mixed-valence complexes using polychlorinated triphenylmethyl radical units. Such radicals are particularly interesting not only because display a high thermal and chemical stability but also because they are electroactive species. As a consequence, it seemed interesting to obtain and study symmetrical molecules consisting of two of these radicals linked with different types of bridges.
These radicals could be converted by a partial reduction or oxidation
to the corresponding radical-anions or radical-cations and the resulting
mixed-valence species could therefore display interesting long-range electron
transfer phenomena.
In this communication we will report the observation of intramolecular
electron transfer phenomena in a pure organic mixed valence molecular wire
of as much as 33 Å.