Synthesis and optical properties of two 2,2′: 6′,2″-Terpyridyl-based two-photon initiators

Two donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) type 2,2′: 6′,2″-terpyridyl-based organic heterocyclic molecules have been efficiently synthesized via solvent-free Wittig reactions in good yields. One crystal structure of them was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction determination. The two compounds exhibit sensitive single-photon-excited fluorescence (SPEF) emission with high fluorescence quantum yields and long lifetimes. The two-photon-excited fluorescence (TPEF), two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections and two-photon initiation polymerization (TPIP) microfabrication experiments have been investigated. Experimental results confirm that they are effective organic two-photon photopolymerization initiators.