A new multi-branched two-photon photopolymerization initiator: synthesis and non-linear optical properties of a 1,3,5-triazine-based octupolar molecule

A new multi-branched two-photon photopolymerization initiator, tris-(4-{2-[4-(2-pyridin-4-yl-vinyl)-phenyl]-vinyl}-phenyl)-amine (abbreviated to TPVPA) has been synthesized and characterized. The experimental results confirmed that TPVPA is a good two-photon absorbing chromophore and operative two-photon photopolymerization initiator. The calculated two-photon absorption cross-section of TPVPA is 42.4 × 10−50 cm4 s photon−1. A microstructure using TPVPA as initiator has been fabricated under irradiation of a Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser at 830 nm. The possible photopolymerization mechanism is discussed.