We report on single molecule electron transport measurements of two oligophenylenevinylene (OPV3) derivatives placed in a nanogap betweengold (Au) or lead (Pb) electrodes in a field effect transistor device. Both derivatives contain thiol end groups that allow chemical binding tothe electrodes. One derivative has additional methylene groups separating the thiols from the delocalized
-electron system. The insertion ofmethylene groups changes the open state conductance by 3-4 orders of magnitude and changes the transport mechanism from a coherentregime with finite zero-bias conductance to sequential tunneling and Coulomb blockade behavior.