Wire-like diruthenium σ-alkynyl compounds and charge mobility therein

Described in this short review is the chemistry of wire-like diruthenium σ-alkynyl species, which are promising building blocks for organometallic molecular wires. Two series of carbon-rich compounds have been studied: (a) polyyn-diyls with diruthenium capping units, and (b) bi-ferrocenes with a diruthenium alkynyl bridge. Investigations of both the charge transfer process across the polyyn-diyls and the role of diruthenium cores in enhancing charge mobility are achieved through X-ray structure determination, spectroscopic, voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical measurements.