The optical absorption and photoluminescence properties of PPE-type pi -con
jugated oligomers that contain a 2,2-bipyridine-5,5'-diyl metal coordinatin
g unit have been examined. The spectra of the free oligomers are compared w
ith those that contain -Re(CO)(3)Cl and -Ru(bpy)(2)(2+) chromophores chelat
ed to the bpy-diyl unit.