We will synthesize a suite of back-to-back 4,2':6',4"-terpyridines: directly linked through the 4'-positions, linked through conjugated pi-systems, or linked through trans-platinum(II) units. A second family of monotopic ligands containing pendant chromophores will also be prepared. Full characterization of the new ligands will include their solution and solid state absorption and emission properties, attention being paid to correlations between structure and perturbation of _{emission maxima}. The extended pi-systems present in these compounds will aid the crystallization both of the free ligands and of coordination polymers. We will initially focus on complexes containing Zn(II), Cd(II) and Ag(I). Structural characterization of polymeric materials via single crystal X-ray diffraction and measurements of the solid state absorption and emission spectra will be essential parts of the project, with observed structure-property trends fed back into the project to aid further ligand design. An attractive feature of coordinated 4,2':6',4"-terpyridines is the presence of anchored Lewis base sites, and the behaviour of the solid state materials as sensors for protons and other Lewis acids will be assessed