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Electronic conductivity of molecular wires is a critical fundamental issue in molecular electronics. π‐Conjugated redox molecular wires with the superior long‐range electron‐transport ability could be constructed on a gold surface through the stepwise ligand–metal coordination method. The βdvalue, indicating the degree of decrease in the electron‐transfer rate constant with distance along the molecular wire between the electrode and the redox active species at the terminal of the wire, were 0.008–0.07 Å−1and 0.002–0.004 Å−1for molecular wires of bis(terpyridine)iron and bis(terpyridine)cobalt complex oligomers, respectively. The influences on βdby the chemical structure of molecular wires and the terminal redox units, temperature, electric field, and electrolyte concentration were clarified. The results indicate that facile sequential electron hopping between neighboring metal–complex units within the wire is responsible for the high electron‐transport ability.

A new bis(terpyridine) ligand with an anthraquinone linker was synthesized. Stepwise coordination reactions at the gold surface using this ligand gave homo‐metal oligomer wires up to pentamer, [nFeL1](n= 1–5), and hetero‐metal oligomer wires with ferrocene as the terminal group, [1FeL11FeL2Fc]. Electrochemical properties of these modified electrodes were examined.

Electronic conductivityof molecular wires is a critical fundamental issue in molecular electronics. π‐Conjugated redox molecular wires with a superior long‐range electron‐transport ability are constructed on a gold surface through the stepwise ligand–metal coordination method. H. Nishihara et al. investigate the influences on the electron‐transfer rate constant by the chemical structure of molecular wires and the terminal redox units, temperature, electric field, and electrolyte concentration. The results indicate that facile sequential electron hopping between neighboring metal–complex units within the wire is responsible for the high electron‐transport ability. For the details, turn to their Full Paper on page 1361 ff.