A high-glass-transition-temperature polynorbornene, poly(NBEDPY), containing chromophore groups was synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) using Grubbs' catalysts; poly(HNBEDPY) was obtained by the reduction of poly(NBEDPY). The glass transition temperatures (T-g) of poly(NBEDPY) and hydrogenated poly(HNBEDPY) were as high as 250 degrees C and 220 degrees C, respectively, because of the rigid dipyrene groups, which are higher than those of commercially available ring-opened hydrogenated polynorbornenes (JSR ARTON (R); 120-165 degrees C). The 10% weight-loss temperatures of hydrogenated poly(HNBEDPY) and poly(NBEDPY) were up to 450 degrees C and 400 degrees C, respectively. A hydrogenated poly (HNBEDPY) film showed excellent transparency (over 91%). The photoluminescence emission spectra of poly(HNBEDPY) showed strong solvent-polarity dependence, revealing that poly (HNBEDPY) underwent remarkable bathochromic shifts with an increase in solvent polarity. Poly(HNBEDPY) also showed remarkable fluorescent solvatochromism (blue in toluene, greenish yellow in dimethyl sulfoxide). The cyclic voltammogram of poly(HNBEDPY) film cast onto an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate exhibited one reversible oxidation redox couple at 0.55 V versus Ag/Ag+ in acetonitrile solution. The electrochromic characteristics of poly(HNBEDPY) showed reversibility, with a color change from its green neutral form to dark red upon the application of potentials from 0 to 1.0 V. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 49: 3673-3680, 2011