Optically active 1,1'-binaphthyl molecules have been used to construct novel chiral dendrimers and linear polymers. Efficient light harvesting effects of the dendrimers have been observed. They have shown enantioselective fluorescence responses in the presence of chiral amino alcohol quenchers. They are potentially useful as fluorescent sensors for the recognition of chiral organic compounds. Linear binaphthyl polymers have shown strong light emitting properties. Their colors of emission can be systematically tuned by incorporating linkers of various conjugation length. A very efficient light emitting diode has been prepared from the binaphthyl based conjugated polymers. Nonlinear optical chromophores have been organized in the chiral binaphthyl polymer chains to construct noncentrosymmetric and multipolar materials. These novel propeller-like polymers have shown significant second-order nonlinear optical effects.