Synthesis, structure and two-photon absorption properties of a new multi-branched compound, 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-pyridylvinyl)benzene

A conjugated and symmetric multi-branched compound, 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(4-pyridylvinyl)benzene (TKPVB), has been synthesized and the crystal structures of TKPVB and its intermediate, 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(dimethoxyphosphorylmethyl)benzene, were determined by diffraction method. TKPVB with four units of 4-vinylpyridine moieties attached to the central benzene core presents an A-π-A general framework, where A is a π-deficient pyridine ring. The single-photon and two-photon absorption and fluorescence properties in different solvents of varying polarity have been investigated. It is also found that the one- and two-photon-induced fluorescence spectra are quite similar, which indicate that the one- and two-photon allowed-excited states are the same.