The end-functionalized polystyrene is synthesized by a new initiator, 5-chloromethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline (5-ClCH(2)Q), via atom transfer radical polymerization. The existence of the oxyquinoline group on the chain end was confirmed by H-1-NMR. The polymers can be easily changed into films with good fluorescence property and nonlinear third-order optical property. Coordinating the oxyquinoline group with Eu3+ and La3+, the fluorescent intensity and third-order nonlinear optical coefficient will be enhanced much more. The proportion of the oxyquinoline group coordinating and rare-earth metal is 3:2 determined by titrimetric analysis. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.