We report the regiocontrolled syntheses of ethene-bridged para-phenylene oligomers in three distinct classes by using Pt(II)- and Ru(II)-catalyzed aromatization. This synthetic approach has been developed based on twofold aromatization of the 1-aryl-2-alkynylbenzene functionality, which proceeds by distinct regioselectivity for platinum and ruthenium catalysts. Variable-temperature NMR spectra provide evidence that large arrays of these oligomers are prone to twist from planarity. The UV/Vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as the band gaps of these regularly growing arrays show a pattern of extensive pi conjugation with increasing array sizes, except for in one instance.

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