Electronic Properties of Novel Mixed Oxidation-State Bis-Arene Chromium Nanowires Supported by a Mesoporous Niobium Oxide Host

A bis-arene complex as a semiconducting molecular wire is reported here for the first time. The mixed oxidation–state chromium-based wires were synthesized inside the channels of mesoporous niobium oxide (see Figure), whose recently discovered oxidizing ability was exploited to create holes in the guest, leading to the observed metallic behavior, and making the system attractive for the study of quantum confinement effects on molecular metals.