Study of the absorption and emission spectroscopy of “A-B” type photosensitive compounds including two-photon chromophore and benzophenone moiety

“A-B” type photosensitive compounds including two-photon chromophore and benzophenone moiety have been designed, synthesized and characterized. The UV-vis absorption and fluorescence emission of the compounds have been extensively studied in various solvents. The results show that the absorption of “A-B” type compounds displays obvious double absorption bands, one of which at short-wavelength is related to the benzophenone moiety, the other at long-wavelength is mainly contributed by chromophore. The emission of “A-B” type compounds at 500-700 nm shows an “unexpected” blue-shift comparing with that of the sole chromophore. The photosensitive compounds with amino group display strong emission in apolar solvents and have a low fluorescence quantum yields in polar solvents. In contrast, the compounds without amino group exhibit strong fluorescence emission in polar solvents, and low fluorescence quantum yields in apolar solvents. The fluorescence quantum yields of “A-B” type compounds are higher than those of the sole chromophore. The discoveries suggest that charge redistribution induced by the introduction of benzophenone moiety plays a key role on the absorption and emission spectroscopy.