Two new soluble arylenevinylene-based polymers comprising of an electron-donating carbazole unit and an electron-accepting 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (or fluorenone) unit in the main chain were synthesized by Heck polycondensation between 3,6-divitiylene-9-decyl carbazole and 4,7-dibromo-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (or 2,7-dibromofluorenone). In the toluene Solution, a polymer with benzothiadiazole unit showed strong and 4,7 red photoluminescence, whereas the polymer with fluorenone unit showed white-yellow photoluminescence. The polymers had good thermal stability with 5 wt% loss temperature Of more than 430 degrees C. Electrochemically, the polymers appeared to be reversible under reduction. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.