We describe poly(aryleneethynylene)s (PAE) as powerful sensor cores. We discuss concepts (super quenching, molecular wire effect, multivalency) that were developed using PAEs and also the relationship that connects side chain structure (polar, polyelectrolyte, etc., number of ionic groups per repeat, position) and optical properties such as quantum yields. In the second part of the review we discuss applications of PAEs in their interaction with sensor targets; metal cations, fluoride and other anions, explosives, proteins and whole cells being the target for PAEs, while cationic PAEs have been used for the transfection of eukaryotic cells with RNA.

Two literature-known TIPS-ethynyl-dibromoacenes were prepared and employed to synthesize cyclotrimers by using Yamamoto coupling conditions. Two large, well-soluble starphenes were isolated in good yields. Crystallographic characterization verifies the triangular shape and shows significant differences in crystal packing.

Alkene metathesis is a superb methodology. We report the progress using alkene metathesis in the synthesis of polymeric organic semiconductors. Three classes of polymers have been synthesized using acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) or ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), viz., poly(acetylene)s (PA), poly(arylene‐vinylene)s (PAV), and organometallic polymers. For PAs, ROMP of cyclooctatetraenes is best, whereas for PAV, both ADMET and indirect and direct ROMP are viable. Metathesis performs flawlessly with the correct monomers, as molybdenum and particularly the robust Ru carbenes demonstrate. When performing ROMP, one is often rewarded with structurally uniform polymers that can display very low polydispersities. Overall, metathesis is a powerful tool for the preparation of semiconducting polymers.

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Front Cover: The properties of elastomers are exploited to trigger wrinkling instabilities in curved shells. Each electro-spun micro-or nanofi ber consists of a soft core and a stiff outer half-shell, which are length-mismatched because of differential solvent de-swelling. The fi bers only wrinkle after attaining a well-defi ned helical shape. A simple analytical model is proposed to fi nd the curvature and wrinkle wavelength. Further details can be found in the article by Stimulus-sensing biohybrid materials have attracted signifi cant interest as smart materials with applications especially in the biomedical fi eld. Such materials harnessing unique properties of chemical and biological polymers are engineered to translate molecular stimuli into precisely defi ned mechanical material properties. This article gives an overview of how biological polymers can be used to control material properties and on their applications.