Two novel alternating phenylenevinylene copolymers P6 and P12 as well as one fluorenevinylene copolymer F connected at the 1,7 bay positions with perylene bisimide were synthesized by Heck coupling. They were characterized by GPC, FT-IR, (1)H NMR, TGA, TMA, UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry and photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra. The copolymers were soluble in common organic solvents and thermally stable up to similar to 300 degrees C. Their glass transition temperatures were 48-60 degrees C. The long wavelength absorption maximum was located at 510-542 nm with optical band gaps of similar to 2.0 eV. The PL emission maximum of P6 and P12 was red-shifted relative to F. The photovoltaic performance of P6, P12 and F was also investigated. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.