  Real-space self-interaction corrected (time-dependent) density functional
theory has been used to investigate the ground-state electronic structure and
optical absorption profiles of a series of linear oligomers inspired by the
natural product telomestatin. Length-dependent development of plasmonic
excitations in the UV region is seen in the neutral species which is augmented
by polaron-type absorption in the IR when the chains are doped with an
additional electron/hole. Combined with a lack of absorption in the visible
region this suggests these oligomers as good candidates for applications such
as transparent antennae in dye-sensitised solar energy collection materials.
