A poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) derivative containing a bulky (2,2-diphenylvinyl)phenyl group in the side chain, EHDVP-PPV, was synthesized by Gilch route. The reduced tolane-bisbenzyl (TBB) defects, as well as the structure of the polymer, was confirmed by various spectroscopic methods. The intramolecular energy transfer from the (2,2-diphenylvinyl)phenyl side group to the PPV backbone was studied by UV-vis and photoluminescence (PL) of the obtained polymer and model compound. The polymer film showed maximum absorption and emission peaks at 454 and 546 nm, respectively, and high PL efficiency of 57%. A yellow electroluminescence (lambda = 548 nm) was obtained with intensities of 6479 cd/m(2) when the light-emitting diodes of ITO/PEDOT/EHDVP-PPV/LiF/Al were fabricated. The maximum power efficiency of the devices was 0.729 lm/W with a turn-on voltage of 3.6 V. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.