Optical, electrochemical, and electron-transporting properties of disilane-and siloxane- bridged biphenyl and bithiophene derivatives were investigated, in comparison with those of the monosilane-bridged analogues (siloles). The UV spectra and cyclic voltammograms indicated that elongation of the silicon bridge suppresses the π-conjugation, in accordance with the results of DFT calculations. The DFT calculations indicated also that the disilane- ...