In this paper, we reported a new method to fabricate CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs), which were synthesized in aqueous solution using thioglycolic acid and L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) as costabilizing agent. Then, they were transferred into organic phase with the assistance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) for further utilization. Finally, we use toluene diisocyanate as a bridge between CdTe QDs and polyacrylate (CPA), whose side chain has hydroxyl group, to synthesize a fluorescent composite polymer CdTe-CPA. In addition, we synthesized an organic substance 4-[2,4-di(tert-butyl)]phenoxy-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,8-naphthalimide (N), and obtained 1,8-naphthahmide fluorescent polymer N-CPA in the same way as it did on CdTe-CPA. The resulting materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL). Then, we studied the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CdTe-CPA and N-CPA. The data obtained from absorption and fluorescence emission spectral indicated that the FRET from N-CPA to CdTe-CPA could be efficiently triggered in the solution of chloroform. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013