A novel donor-acceptor type conjugated polymer based on PPE with [2.2]paracyclophane and benzothiadiazole units in the main chain was synthesized by the Sonogashira coupling reaction. The obtained polymer was quite soluble in common organic solvents, and the transparent and uniform thin film of the polymer was obtained easily by casting or spin-coating from a toluene solution. The polymer showed an extension of pi-delocalization via the through-space with pi-pi stacking according to the UV-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra in comparison with that of the model compound. The polymer exhibited orange photoluminescence in solution (fluorescence quantum efficiency = 0.13) and in the solid state. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.