The synthesis and optical characterization of quinoxalines bearing 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine

4′-(4-{2-[6,7-Bis-dodecyloxy-3-(2-p-substituted phenyl-vinyl)-quinoxalin-2-yl]-vinyl}-phenyl)-[2,2′:6′,2″] terpyridine was prepared by the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction of 4-[2,2′:6′,2″]terpyridin-4′-yl-benzaldehyde and quinoxaline derivatives. The absorption and fluorescence maximum of these compounds were observed at 398–443 nm and 484–586 nm, respectively. The compounds were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF-MS, and their recognition properties for metal ions were evaluated using both absorption and emission spectroscopy.