A series of oligomers analogous to poly (p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV 1) have been synthesized by various condensation reactions. Particular emphasis is placed upon the preparation of distyrylbenzenes with the electron-withdrawing cyano-group located in different positions of the conjugated system for comparison with the low band-gap polymer CN-PPV 2. Systematic variation of the location of the cyano-group allows us to tune the electronic as well as the optical properties. The electroluminescent behavior of the new emitting materials was studied in devices of the type ITO/copper phthalocyanine/oligomer/aluminium, showing a wide spectral range from blue-green to yellow, depending on the position of the cyano-group.