A strategy for creating two-dimensional, ordered arrays of linear, conjugated organic molecules on polyimide scaffolds is described. The design takes advantage of the enforcement of consecutive 90° twist angles along the polyimide backbone. Rod-shaped conjugated molecules are held parallel and in the same plane on the scaffolds, and have optical properties similar to those of monomeric analogues. As supporting evidence for the structure of the polymers, a series of model compounds were synthesized and characterized by x-ray crystallography. The polymeric materials are soluble in common organic solvents and have been characterized by 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, MALDI-TOF, Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The average molecular weight was determined by end group analysis. Kinetic VT-NMR study of the model compound shows that single bond rotate through the polyimide backbone only at high temperature (>90°C). Because rotation is slow at room temperature, it is expected that these polymers will serve as excellent scaffolds for aligning second order non-linear optical materials, as NLO chromophores can be poled at high temperature, but will not realign at room temperature. Ni-salophen derived foldamers were designed, synthesized and studied. The absolute sense of helicity is effectively controlled via secondary sphere chirality, through which peripheral stereocenters control the asymmetric environment. Three-center hydrogen bonds and steric interactions were utilized to bias the absolute sense of helicity. The strong bias was supported by chiroptical data and low temperature NMR studies. The helical structure in solid state was confirmed by x-ray crystallography and the solution geometry was confirmed by a series of NMR spectroscopic studies. Chiral metal-salen complexes are widely employed as asymmetric catalysts and helicity has been proposed to play a role in asymmetric induction by metal salen catalysts. A tool for measuring the ability of chiral diamine to induce asymmetry in metal-salen complexes was developed. This was accomplished by juxtaposing competing elements of chirality within Ni(salen) complexes that are predisposed to fold. The chiral end group biases for the formation of the (M)-helix, whereas the diamine biases for the diastereomeric metallofoldamer of (P)-helicity. Spectroscopic and crystallographic studies of these complexes show that the trans -cyclohexanediamine is only a weak director of absolute helicity in Ni(salen) complexes. The bias of the diamine is completely overridden by the chiral end group. An implication of this study for asymmetric catalysis is that both helical diastereomers must be considered in any models that invoke helicity to explain asymmetric induction with chiral salens. To create metal salen-based foldamers that are appropriate for asymmetric catalysis, a small foldamer was designed and synthesized. The ends of this foldamer do not wrap. The complex retains the virtue of peripheral stereocenter control over catalyst helicity. A new steric interaction is created in the design to bias the absolute sense of helicity. The helical structure of the minimalist foldamer in solid state was confirmed by x-ray crystallography and the strong bias of absolute helicity in solution was determined by chiroptical data and low temperature NMR studies.