Electrochemically addressable molecules for molecular electronics

Electron transfer properties of selected molecules will be discussed in terms of their electron transfer properties in a classical electrochemical sense and in the arrangement of the metal-molecule-metal and metal-inclusion complex-metal break junction. The first example represents the molecular wire functionality, whereas the second example represents the electrochemically-addressable molecular switch. Two types of molecules will be discussed: extended pyridiniums (EP) and ferrocene-terminated oligo(phenylene ethynylene) molecular wires (Fc-OPE) that can form inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins.