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This tutorial review surveys and highlights the integration of different molecular wires-in combination with chromophores that exhibit (i) significant absorption cross section throughout the visible part of the solar spectrum and (ii) good electron donating power-into novel electron donor-acceptor conjugates. The focus is predominantly on charge transfer and charge transport features of the most promising systems.

The covalent connection of the electron acceptor C 60 to p-quinonoid pi-extended tetrathiafulvalenes (exTTFs) has allowed for the preparation of new photo- and electroactive conjugates able to act as artificial photosynthetic systems and active molecular materials in organic photovoltaics. The gain of aromaticity undergone by the pi-extended TTF unit in the oxidation process results in highly stabilized radical ion pairs, namely, C 60 (*-)/exTTF (*+). Lifetimes for such charge-separated states, ranging from a few nanoseconds to hundreds of microseconds, have been achieved by rationally modifying the nature of the chemical spacers. These long-lived radical pairs are called to play an important role for the conversion of sunlight into chemical or electrical power.

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Fullerene hexakis-adducts bearing 12 peripheral carbohydrate moieties have been prepared by grafting sugar derivatives onto the fullerene core through the copper mediated Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azides and alkynes.