The ligand 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide (CNx) forms six complexes of the formula [Re(CO)(3)(CNx)(L)](+), where L = 1,10-phenanthroline (1), 5-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline (2), 5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline (3), 5-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4), 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (5), and 1,10-phenanthrolinopyrrole (6). The lowest-energy absorption peaks of the complexes red-shift in the order 1 < 2 < 3 < 4 < 5 < 6. The time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and conductor-like polarizable continuum model (CPCM) computed singlet excited states in ethanol deviate by 1000 cm(-1) or less from the experimental UV-vis peaks. The complexes undergo reversible reductions and irreversible oxidations. The electronic energy gap increases in the order 3 < 2 < 1 < 4 < 5 < 6, which is the order of increasing electron-donating power of the phen substituents. The reduction potentials linearly correlate with the B3LYP calculated LUMO energies for 1-6. The complexes emit at room temperature and at 77 K except 3, which emits only at 77 K. The calculated (MLLCT)-M-3 energies are within 1100 cm(-1) from the experimental emission energies at 77 K. The 77 K emission curve-fitting analysis results agree with the computational assignment of the emitting state as 3MLLCT for 1-5 and (LC)-L-3 for 6. The experimental 77 K emission energies and the calculated (MLLCT)-M-3 state energies increase in the order 6 < 5, 3 < 2 < 4, 1. The 77 K emission lifetimes increase upon addition of substituents from 65 mu s for 1 to 171 mu s for 2, to 230 mu s for 4 and 5, and to 322 mu s for 3. The emission quantum yields at room temperature in solution are 0.77, 0.78, 0.83, 0.56, and 0.11 for complexes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, respectively.