A PPE containing benzylic TEMPO units on each second benzene ring, 8, is reported; 8 has been reacted with styrene to give grafted PPE-polystyrene hybrids 10a and lob with unusual optical properties. When 8 is reacted with 4-chloromethylstyrene, polymer 11 forms; 11 carries a poly(4-chloromethylstyrene) side chain that is on average 26 repeat units long. The polymer 11 can be reacted with 2-methyloxazoline to give a "grafted graft", i.e., a polymer in which the polystyrene grafts carry polyoxazoline substitutents. The polymer 12 is water-soluble and fluorescent.