As eries of new ruthenium(II) vinyl complexes has been prepared incorporating perylenemonoimide (PMI) units. This fluorogenic moiety was functionalised with terminal alkyne or pyridyl groups,a llowing attachment to the metal either as av inyl ligand or through the pyridyln itrogen. The inherentl ow solubility of the perylene compounds was improved through the design of poly-PEGylated (PEG = polyethylene glycol)units bearing aterminal alkyne or apyridyl group. By absorbing the compounds on silica, vapours and gases could be detected in the solid state. The reaction of the complexes [Ru(CH=CH-Per Im )Cl(CO)(py-3PEG)(PPh 3 ) 2 ] and [Ru(CH=CH-3PEG)Cl(CO)(py-Per Im )(PPh 3 ) 2 ]w ith carbon monoxide, isonitrile or cyanide was found to result in modulation of the fluorescenceb ehaviour.T he complexes were observed to display solvatochromic effects andt he interaction of the complexes with aw ide range of other species was also studied. The study suggestst hat such complexes have potential for the detection of gases or vapourst hat are toxic to humans.