Three types of folded polymers showing alternative stacking of two different pi-units (A-3), J-aggregate (J-3), and staggered stacking (S-3) structures of pi-modules were designed and synthesized using 2-substituted 1,3-diaryl tethering units. The UV-absorbing and fluorescent emission properties of these polymers were investigated and compared to those of the corresponding single structural pi-molecule component and H-type stacking polymer (H-3). These three types of polymers exhibited unique optical properties as a result of a distinctive arrangement of pi-units. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.