We report the synthesis of dithienobenzotropone-based conjugated alternating copolymers by direct arylation polycondensation. Postpolymn. modification by hydride redn. yields cross-conjugated, reactive hydroxyl-contg. copolymers that undergo phosphorylation and ionization upon exposure to the chem. warfare agent mimic diethylchlorophosphate (DCP). The resulting conjugated, cationic copolymer is highly colored and facilitates the spectroscopic and colorimetric detection of DCP in both soln. and thin-film measurements. [on SciFinder(R)]