Four D-π-A push–pull derivatives either based on a diphenylmethylamine or a 9-methylcarbazole electron-rich block (D), connected to a dicyanovinyl accepting moiety (A) through two different spacers (π), namely a thiophene or selenophene, were synthesized and characterized. These small and synthetically accessible molecules were indeed selected to rationalize the impact of both i) the rigidification of the arylamine part and ii) the nature of the π-spacer constituting heteroatom on the optical, electrochemical, charge transport and therefore photovoltaic properties