The synthesis and spectroscopic and electrochemical characterisation of 16 alkoxylated derivatives of E,E-1,4-bis(2-phenylethenyl) benzene are described. The influence of the size and position of the functional groups on the carbon backbone on the formal oxidation potential and the diffusion coefficient has been investigated. The experimental values of the formal oxidation potential are correlated with calculated values of the ionisation potential, at different levels of theory and with different methodologies. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.