Preparation and luminescence properties of tris(bipyridine) ruthenium(II)-containing vinyl polymers: Ru(bpy)2 (poly-6-vinyl-2,2′-bipyridine)Cl2 and Ru(bpy)2(poly-4-methyl-4′-vinyl-,2,2′-bipyridine)Cl2

Ruthenium (II) complex-containing polymers were prepared and characterized by absorption and luminescence spectra, luminescence quantum yield, and luminescence lifetime. The polymers are Ru(bpy)₂(poly-6-vinyl-2,′2-bipyridine)CI₂ ( 1 ) and Ru(bpy)₂(poly-4-methyl-4′-methyl-4′ -vinyl-2,2′-bipyridine)CI₂ ( 2 ). The absorption spectra and luminescence spectra of polymers 1 and 2 were substantially the same as that of Ru(bpy)₃CI₂. The lifetime of polymers 1 and 2 was similar to that of the respective monomer model compounds. The lifetime of polymer 1 was very short (ca. 13 ns) in comparison to Ru(bpy)₃CI₂ (660 ns), whereas the lifetime of polymer 2 (660 ns) was similar to that of Ru(bpy)₃CI₂. The temperature-dependency of the lifetime was discussed in terms of Watts' model.