The luminescent complex [4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine]-bis(2,2'-bipyridine)-ruthenium(II)-bis(hexafluoroantimonate) and its methacrylate derivative were successfully synthesized and fully characterized by two-dimensional H-1 and C-13{H-1} NMR techniques [correlation spectroscopy (COSY) and heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence experiment (HMQC)], as well as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The respective labeled methyl methacrylate-ruthenium(polypyridyl) copolymers were obtained by free-radical copolymerization with methyl methacrylate and were characterized utilizing NMR, IR, and UV-visible spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.