Linear and Kinked Oligo(phenyleneethynylene)s as Ideal Molecular Calibrants for Förster Resonance Energy Transfer

We show that oligo(phenyleneethynylene)s (oligoPEs) are ideal spacers for calibrating dye pairs used for Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). Ensemble FRET measurements on linear and kinked diads with such spacers show the expected distance and orientation dependence of FRET. Measured FRET efficiencies match excellently with those predicted using a harmonic segmented chain model, which was validated by end-to-end distance distributions obtained from pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance measurements on spin-labeled oligoPEs with comparable label distances.