Electronic interactions in metallated polythiophenes: what can be learned from model complexes

Conjugated polymers containing metal centers are an important class of new materials due to the coupling of the chemical, optical, and electronic properties of the metal moiety to those of the polymer. Conjugated polythiophene derivatives have been extensively explored due to their chemical stability and synthetic accessibility. Bimetallic model complexes in which the two metals are bridged by a conjugated oligothiophene provide an approach to understanding the properties of these materials. The electronic interactions between the metals in these complexes can be examined, and provide insight into coupling between analogous complexes tethered to polythiophenes. In this review such model systems are surveyed, along with some of the metal-containing polythiophene derivatives that have been prepared. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.