The present invention provides novel methods and processes for polymerizing unsaturated substrates, such as alkyne bearing monomers, with arenes. The polymerizations are catalyzed by gold (Au) catalysts/complexes and/or other cocatalysts. The invention further provides novel structurally complex polymers prepared in high yield via an intermolecular polyhydroarylation mechanism. Such resulting products comprise oligomeric and polymeric materials with novel molecular architectures and microstructures, which subsequently impart unique properties. The invention includes both the synthesis methods and processes and the resulting compounds and compositions of matter.

Water solvated polymeric dyes and polymeric tandem dyes are provided. The polymeric dyes include a water solvated light harvesting multichromophore having a conjugated segment of aryl or heteroaryl co-monomers linked via covalent bonds, vinylene groups or ethynylene groups. The polymeric tandem dyes further include a signaling chromophore covalently linked to the multichromophore in energy-receiving proximity therewith. Also provided are labeled specific binding members that include the subject polymeric dyes. Methods of evaluating a sample for the presence of a target analyte and methods of labeling a target molecule in which the subject polymeric dyes find use are also provided. Systems and kits for practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Various embodiments relate to p-phenylene ethynylene compounds as bioactive and detection agents. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of inducing germination of microbial spores including contacting the microbial spores with a p-phenylene ethynylene compound. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method for detecting an enzyme, a method of protein analysis, or a method of detecting a chemical agent, including introducing a p-phenylene ethylylene compound to a composition including an enzyme substrate, and analyzing the fluorescence of the p-phenylene ethynylene compound. Various embodiments provide sensors that include a p-phenylene ethynylene compound and an enzyme substrate.

Described herein are methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving neutral conjugated polymers including methods for synthesis of neutral conjugated water-soluble polymers with linkers along the polymer main chain structure and terminal end capping units. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods.

The present invention relates to a ligand-containing conjugated microporous polymer, which is obtained by covalent coupling of a conjugated microporous polymer and a uranium complexing ligand. The conjugated microporous polymer comprises an aromatic ring and/or a heterocyclic ring. The uranium complexing ligand is selected from the group consisting of a compound with a group containing phosphorus, a compound with a group containing nitrogen, and a compound with a group containing sulfur. The invention further provides use of the ligand-containing conjugated microporous polymer as a uranium adsorbent. The ligand-containing conjugated microporous polymer the invention is capable of adsorbing the radioactive element uranium in strongly acidic and strong-radiation environments.

Disclosed herein is a porous polymeric material having a repeating unit according to Formula (I) or (IV), wherein each of A and E has a -conjugated system and each of X and G contain a flexible tetraphenylethylene (TPE) group. Also disclosed herein are fluorescent chemical sensors or biosensors or environmental monitoring assay or nanosheets or a composite material comprising the polymer, and a method of detecting a volatile organic chemical or a metal ion in solution phase.

##STR00001##

A method and sensor array for identification of an analyte is disclosed. The method comprises preparing a plurality of solutions at a plurality of pH values of at least one fluorescent poly(para-phenyleneethynylene) and its complex(es), exposing the complex analyte to the plurality of the solutions and measuring the fluorescence intensity of the exposed complex analyte. The fluorescence intensity is compared with a library and the complex analyte identified from the comparison.

An organic semiconductor element in which an organic semiconductor layer contains a compound of Formula (1) and/or a compound of Formula (2) or contains a polymer having a structure of any one of Formulae (9) and (10):

##STR00001## in which X.sup.1 represents a nitrogen atom or CR.sup.a, rings A to D each represent a specific aromatic ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring; Y.sup.1 represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, CR.sup.b.sub.2, or NR.sup.c; R.sup.a to R.sup.c each represent hydrogen atoms or substituents; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a to specific substituent; n represents 1 or 2; and * represents a bonding site.

Various embodiments relate to p-phenylene ethynylene compounds as bioactive and detection agents. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of inducing germination of microbial spores including contacting the microbial spores with a p-phenylene ethynylene compound. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method for detecting an enzyme, a method of protein analysis, or a method of detecting a chemical agent, including introducing a p-phenylene ethynylene compound to a composition including an enzyme substrate, and analyzing the fluorescence of the p-phenylene ethynylene compound. Various embodiments provide sensors that include a p-phenylene ethynylene compound and an enzyme substrate.

Described herein are methods, compositions and articles of manufacture involving neutral conjugated polymers including methods for synthesis of neutral conjugated water-soluble polymers with linkers along the polymer main chain structure and terminal end capping units. Such polymers may serve in the fabrication of novel optoelectronic devices and in the development of highly efficient biosensors. The invention further relates to the application of these polymers in assay methods.