DOI: https://doi.org/10.24820/ark.5550190.p009.736 Page 390 © ARKAT USA, Inc The Free Internet Journal for Organic Chemistry Review Archive for Organic Chemistry Arkivoc 2017, part ii, 390-406 Conjugated arylenes: their convenient synthesis, luminescence characteristics, and applications Jadwiga Sołoducho,* a Dorota Zając, a Joanna Cabaj, a and Mieczysław Łapkowski b a Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland b Silesian University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland E-mail: jadwiga.soloducho@pwr.edu.pl Dedicated to Prof. Jacek Młochowski on the occasion of his 80 th anniversary Received 06-13-2016 Accepted 09-20-2016 Published on line 12-04-2016 Abstract Conjugated arylenes have significant perspectives as active materials useful in electronics, i.e. as semiconductors or solar cells. Organic semiconductors maintain the related processability, as with polymers, while retaining optoelectronic characteristics, i.e., high absorption coefficients of photons in the visible-region. This review summarizes recent developments in semiconducting polymers for electronic tools. This includes information on substitution and localization, branching, and its impact on functional materials. Keywords: Arylene derivatives, C-C coupling, polymerization, luminescent materials, electroactive materials