Hyperconjugative and inductive perturbations in poly(p-phenylene vinylenes)

New polymers having high solid-state fluorescence quantum yields and the ability to tune their electron affinity without effecting their band gap using hyperconjugative interactions is reported. The novel three-dimensional poly(phenylene vinylenes) having 2.2.2] bicyclic ring systems shown were synthesized, and the different hyperconjugative perturbations provide differential fluorescence sensory quenching responses to electron-rich and electron-deficient analytes in solution and solid thin films.