  We present results of electronic structure calculations for well-relaxed
Au/benzene-1,4-dithiol/Au molecular contacts, based on density functional
theory and the generalized gradient approximation. Electronic states in the
vicinity of the Fermi energy are mainly of Au 5d and S 3p symmetry, whereas
contributions of C 2p states are very small. Hybridization between C 2p
orbitals within the benzene substructure is strongly suppressed due to S-C
bonding. In agreement with experimental findings, this corresponds to a
significantly reduced conductance of the molecular contact.
