A novel silyl-substituted solvent processable poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) derivative, poly(2-dimethyloctylsilyl-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (DMOS-PPV) is synthesized by the dehydrohalogenation route from 2-dimethyloctylsilyl-1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzene, and the light-emitting properties of the polymer are studied; single layer electroluminescent devices (ITO/polymer/Ca or Al) exhibit an emission maximum at 520 nm with internal quantum efficiency in the range 0.2-0.3%.