A new bisphenol, (3,4-dicyano)phenylhydroquinone was prepared via a three-step reaction. Then a series of novel poly(aryl ether ketone) copolymers containing dicyanophenyl groups were prepared by the reactions of 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone with (3,4-dicyano)phenylhydroquinone and 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol. After that, a series of poly(aryl ether ketone)s with metallophthalocyanine pendants were synthesized via the reactions of poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing dicyanophenyl with excessive amounts of 1,2-dicyanobenzene and the corresponding metal salt in quinoline. These resulting copolymers were found to have high glass transition temperatures and high thermal stability. They have good solubility and are capable of forming tough films. These copolymers show strong optical absorption in the visible region and exhibit strong blue photoluminescence. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.