A novel optically active poly(phenylene) substituted with chiral binaphthyl crown ether functional group has been synthesized by using the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. The structure and properties of teh polymer were characterized with 1^H NMR, UV, CD, fluorescence spectroscopic, thermal gravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry. It is found that the polymer exihibits high thermal stability and high specific optical rotation. In addition, the polymer can bind alkali-metal ions in solution and the fluorescence of the polymer is gradually attenuated with the inceasing of concentration of alkali-metal ions. This polymer emits strong blue light when irradiated and is expected to have the potential application for blue light emitting materials.

Key words: BINAPHTHYL P, CROWN ETHER, COPOLYMERS, PALLADIUM, CATALYTIC REACTION, PROTON MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROMETRY, ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, CIRCULAR DICHROISM, LUMINESCENT MATERIALS