Abstract: Novel polythiophene derivatives are provided along with sensing devices comprising such derivatives in a layer disposed upon a substrate. In preferred embodiments, the polythiophene derivatives bear crown ether moieties covalently bound to 3 positions of adjacent thiophene units.

Abstract: Calixarene-based, noncentrosymmetric transition metal complexes that exhibit large second order nonlinear optical and related electro-optical properties are provided, as are materials and devices comprising the same.

Abstract: A precursor route to the synthesis of polyacetylene and other conductive polymers is provided by the formation of high energy polymers by ring opening metathesis polymerization. In particular, the high energy polymers having the following general formula are formed from monomers as shown: ##STR1## In the formula, A is an organic structure that is relieved of strain upon the ring opening polymerization and B is an organic structure with strain energy.gtoreq.20 kcal/mole. Such high energy polymers are also found to be spontaneously decomposable with heat or mechanical stress. Consequently, the high energy polymers formed in accordance with the invention may find use in explosives or other sources of high energy.