The 1:1 reaction between the d(9)-d(9) Pd(2)(dmb)(2)Cl(2) complex (dmb = 1,8-diisocyano-p-menthane) and the diphosphine ligands (diphos) bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (5, dppb), bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane (6, dpppen), bis(diphenylphosphino)hexane (7, dpph), and bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene (8, dpa) in the presence of LiClO(4) leads to the [[Pd(2)(dmb)(2)(diphos)](ClO(4))(2)](n) polymers. These new materials are characterized by NMR ((1)H, (13)C, (31)P), IR, Raman, and UV-vis spectroscopies (466 < lambda(max)(dsigma-dsigma*) < 480 nm), by ATG, XRD, and DSC methods, and by the capacity to make stand-alone films. From the measurements of the intrinsic viscosity in acetonitrile, the M(n) ranges from 16000 to 18400 (12 to 16 units). The dinuclear model complex [Pd(2)(dmb)(2)(PPh(3))(2)](ClO(4))(2) (4) is prepared and investigated as well. The molecular dynamic of the title polymers in acetonitrile solution is investigated by means of (13)C spin-lattice relaxation time (T(1)) and nuclear Overhauser enhancement methods (NOE). The number of units determined by T(1)/NOE methods is 3 to 4 times less than that found from the measurements of intrinsic viscosity, and is due to flexibility in the polymer backbone, even for bridging ligands containing only one (dmb) or two C-C single bonds (dpa). During the course of this study, the starting material Pd(2)(dmb)(2)Cl(2) was reinvestigated after evidence for oligomers in the MALDI-TOF spectrum was noticed. In solution, this d(9)-d(9) species is a binuclear complex (T(1)/NOE). This result suggests that the structure of the title polymers in solution and in the solid state may not be the same either. Finally, these polymers are strongly luminescent in PrCN glasses at 77 K, and the photophysical data (emission lifetimes, 1.50 < tau(e) < 2.75 ns; quantum yields, 0.026 < Phi(e) < 0.17) are presented. X-ray data for [Pd(2)(dppe)(2)(dmb)(2)](PF(6))(4): monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 24.3735 A, b = 21.8576(13) A, c = 18.0034(9) A, b = 119.775(1) degrees, V = 8325.0(8) A(3), Z = 4.

Two families of organometallic polymers built upon the bimetallic M2(dppm)2L(2)2+ fragments (M = Pd, Pt; dppm = bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, L = 1,4-diisocyano-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene (diiso), 1,8-diisocyano-p-menthane (dmb), 1-isocyano-2,6-dimethylbenzene, 1-isocyano-4-isopropylbenzene, and tert-butylisocyanide) were synthesized and fully characterized (1H and 31P NMR, X-ray crystallography (model compounds), IR, Raman, chem. anal., TGA, DSC, powder XRD, 31P NMR T1 and NOE, light scattering, and conductivity measurements). Evidence for polymers in the solid state is provided from the swelling of the polymers upon dissolution and the formation of stand-alone films. However, these species become small oligomers when dissolved. The materials are luminescent in the solid state at 298 and 77 K and in PrCN solution at 77 K. These emissions result from triplet 3(d sigma d sigma*) states despite the presence of low-lying pi-pi* MO levels according to DFT calculations for the aryl isocyanide model compounds. The emission band maxima are located between 640 and 750 nm and exhibit lifetimes of 3-6 ns for the Pd species and 3-4 micros for the Pt analogues in PrCN solution at 77 K. No evidence of intramolecular excitonic photoprocesses was found in any of the polymers.