Pyridine-based ligands, such as 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline, have gained much interest in the fields of supramolecular chemistry as well as materials science. The appealing optoelectronic properties of their complexes with heavy d(6) transition metal ions, such as Ru(ii), Os(II), Re(I) and Ir(III), primarily based on the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) nature featuring access to charge-separated states, have provided the starting point for many studies in the field of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), artificial photosynthesis and photogenerated electron as well as energy transfer processes. This critical review provides a comprehensive survey over central advances in the field of soluble metal-containing macromolecules in the last few decades. The synthesis and properties of functionalized 2,2'-bipyridyine- and 1,10-phenanthroline-based d(6) metal complexes, in particular, their introduction into different prevailing polymeric structures are highlighted. In the most part of the review metal complexes which have been attached as pendant groups on the polymer side chain are covered. Selected applications of the herein discussed metal-containing macromolecules are addressed, particularly, with respect to photogenerated electron/energy transfer processes. In order to enable a deeper understanding of the properties of the ligands and metal complexes, the fundamentals of selected photophysical processes will be discussed (223 references).

The synthesis of a variety of 2-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-pyridines by click chemistry is demonstrated to provide straightforward access to mono-functionalized ligands. The ring-opening polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone initiated by such a mono-functionalized ligand highlights the synthetic potential of this class of bidentate ligands with respect to polymer chemistry or the attachment onto surfaces and nanoparticles. The coordination to Ru(II) ions results in homoleptic and heteroleptic complexes with the resultant photophysical and electrochemical properties strongly dependent on the number of these ligands attached to the Ru(II) core.

New 2-(1H-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)pyridine bidentate ligands were synthesized as bipyridine analogs, whereas different phenylacetylene moieties of donor and acceptor nature were attached at the 5-position of the pyridine unit. The latter moieties featured a crucial influence on the electronic properties of those ligands. The N-heterocyclic ligands were coordinated to ruthenium(II) metal ions by using a bis(4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) precursor. The donor or acceptor capability of the 2-(1H-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)pyridine ligands determined the quantum yield of the resulting ruthenium(II) complexes remarkably. Separately, 2-([1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)pyridine ligands are known to be potential quenchers, but using these new ligand systems led to room temperature emission of the corresponding ruthenium(II) complexes. The compounds have been fully characterized by elemental analysis, high-resolution ESI mass spectrometry, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Theoretical calculations for two ruthenium(II) complexes bearing a donor and acceptor unit, respectively, were performed to gain a deeper understanding of the photophysical behavior.