By means of ab initio HF and DFT B3LYP methods, the structure of Gaq3 (q = 8-hydroxyquinoline) was optimized. The frontier molecular orbital characteristics and energy levels of Gaq3 have been analyzed systematically in order to study the electronic transition mechanism in Gaq3. Three derivatives of Gaq3 and their polymers were designed and the possibilities that they were employed as luminescent materials were discussed. The regularities and characteristic of energy bands of Gaq3 and its derivatives were also investigated. The results show that the electronic ?-?* transitions in Gaq3 are localized on the quinolate ligands. The emission of Gaq3 is due to the electron transitions from a phenoxide donor to a pyridyl acceptor. Two possible electron transfer pathways are presented, one by carbon atoms, and the other via metal cation Ga3+. The derivatives of Gaq3 may possess high luminescence efficiency.