Long-distance electronic interaction in a molecular wire consisting of a ferrocenyl–ethynyl unit bridging two [(η5-C5H5)(dppe)M] metal centers

The preparations of multinuclear supramolecules assembled from ethynylferrocene(s) redox-active subunit end-capping with [(η5-C5H5)(dppe)M] metal centers are described. A combination of spectroscopic data and computational studies reveals that the ferrocenyl-ethynyl-based orbitals do mix significantly with the (η5-C5H5)(dppe)Ru metallic orbitals, resulting a substantial electron delocalization over the (η5-C5H5)(dppe)Ru metal center and ferrocenyl center.