The synthesis and two-photon excited fluorescence properties of novel branched fluorene derivatives

Two novel, V-shaped fluorene derivatives branched from triphenylamine and their linear analogue were synthesized via Cu-mediated Ullmann condensation and subsequent Pd-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction. Their two-photon excited fluorescence properties as well as their linear absorption and single-photon excited fluorescence properties were examined. When excited at 730 nm by a Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser, the compounds exhibited strong two-photon excited blue fluorescence. The two-photon excited fluorescence cross-sections of V-shaped derivatives in toluene at 730 nm were ∼506 GM in the case of N, N-bis{7-[4′-(N, N-diphenylamino)styryl]-9,9-diethyl-9H-fluorene-2-yl}-aniline) and 397 GM for N, N-Bis{7-[4′-(N, N-diphenylamino)styryl]-9,9-diethyl-9H-fluorene-2-yl}-4-acetyl-aniline), respectively.