Group 8 and 10 metal acetylide naphthalimide dyads

[M]–Ctriple bond; length of mdashC–naphthalimide derivatives {[M] = CpNi(PPh3), CpFe(dppe), CpRu(dppe) and Cp*Ru(dppe)} have been prepared and their X-ray structures determined. The structures show significant non-linearity of the acetylide link, with concomitant νCtriple bond; length of mdashC at low energy and high intensity. Other properties confirm the strong-donor/strong-naphthalimide acceptor nature of the compounds. All the compounds exhibit an intense MLCT band in the visible spectrum that resolves into two bands in non-polar solvents. Spectroelectrochemistry of the CpFe species shows that the MLCT band disappears upon oxidation, and the appearance of a LMCT band at lower energy.