Spectroscopic studies, fluorescence quenching by molecular oxygen and amplified spontaneous emission of 1,4-bis [2-(2-pyridyl) vinyl] benzene (P2VB) diolefinic laser dye

•Fluorescence quenching of P2VB by molecular oxygen obey diffusion controlled mechanism.•P2VB give laser emission in blue region of electromagnetic spectrum.•P2VB is highly photostable in organic solvent.

The UV–visible electronic absorption spectra, molar absorptivity, fluorescence spectra, fluorescence quantum yield and excited state lifetime of 1,4-bis [2-(2-pyridyl) vinyl] benzene P2VB were measured in different solvents. The fluorescence quenching of P2VB by molecular oxygen was also studied using lifetime measurements. A 2 × 10−4 mol dm−3 solution of P2VB in dimethyl formamide (DMF) gave amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in blue spectral region with emission maximum at 420 nm upon pumping by 337.1 nitrogen laser pulse. The photochemical quantum yields (ϕc) of trans–cis photoisomerization of P2VB were calculated in different organic solvents. The photoreactivity of P2VB are also studied PMMA matrix.