[structure: see text]. New poly(phenylene ethynylene)s (PPEs) and poly(phenylene vinylene)s (PPVs) that are highly emissive in solution and thin films were prepared utilizing palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling between new 1,4-diiodo-2,3-dialkoxybenzene- and iptycene-containing monomers. The absorption and emission spectra of the resulting polymers consistently showed a significant blue shift relative to the corresponding polymer analogues containing 2,5-dialkoxyphenylenes.[on SciFinder (R)]