Minireview: From molecular nanowires to molecular nanocables: Synthetic strategies and conducting properties

Whether nanosciences or real life, a straight line is usually the fastest way from point A to point B. If linearity is very frequent among inorganic scaffolds due to the crystalline character of the structures employed, the linearity in organic materials is significantly more difficult to control. An intermediate situation is found in the case of carbon nanotubes which can be grown in mats with a great deal of control over their orientation and size. The scope of this review is to provide, through selected examples, a general overview of the strategies available to obtain organic linear structures with interesting electronic properties. When available for the examples provided, physical data related to the electronic properties will be examined to outline the limitations expected in the case of organic nanowires and nanocables. Although these materials will hardly compete with inorganic solids, they still have a bright future complementary to the inorganic approach, and because of their production via soft chemical synthesis.