Photophysics of metal-organic π-conjugated oligomers and polymers

A series of phenylene-ethynylene based π-conjugated oligomers that contain a 2,2′-bipyridine metal chelating unit has been synthesized by using Pd-mediated coupling chemistry. The photophysics of the free oligomers and complexes of the oligomers with the Re1(CO)xCl metal chromophore is reported. These oligomers serve as excellent models for π-conjugated metal-organic polymers.