Five new α,ω-bis(tpy)bithiophenes and terthiophenes, each comprising two hexyl groups attached to oligothiophene block at different positions, were prepared using the Suzuki coupling strategy, characterized (NMR, IR, Raman, HRMS, UV/vis, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry) and transformed to corresponding conjugated metallo-supramolecular polymers with Zn 2+ ion-couplers. Reference oligomers with unsubstituted central blocks and their polymers are also reported. Photophysical properties of oligomers and polymers are described, analyzed with a help of DFT calculations, and correlated with the chemical constitution of oligomeric building blocks. Steric effects were shown to exceed the electronic effects of hexyl groups, and twisting the thiophene-thiophene bonds were shown to influence electronic spectra of oligomers and polymer more deeply than twisting the thiophene-tpy bonds. Outlying photoluminescence characteristics observed for some oligomers and polymers were shown to be consistent with the other data based on their analysis by the Stokes shift approach. Polymers prepared exhibited good constitutional dynamics in DMSO but only limited dynamics in THF solutions. IR and Raman spectra allowing identification of solid oligomers and polymers are also presented.

Th is paper connects the biofuels literature with the genetic modifi cations literature by considering the potential of genetic modifi cations for increasing the effi ciency of the cellulosic biofuels production. Th is is done for one particular case through analyzing the eff ect of genetically modifi ed corn adoption on the overall yields of corn for silage. Our econometric model confi rms that the use of genetically modifi ed corn with the inserted MON810 gene increases the overall corn biomass yield in the production and environmental conditions of the Central Europe, in particular in the Czech Republic.