Synthesis and characterization of new Y-shaped fluorophores with an imidazole core.

Four new y-shaped fluorophores of 4- {4,5-[2,2'-Bis(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)vinyl]-1-H-imidazole-2-yl}benzonitrile 1a, 2-phenyl-{4,5-[2,2'-Bis(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)vinyl]-1-H-imidazole} 1b, 2- (9-anthryl)-{4,5-[2,2'-Bis(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)vinyl] }-1-H-imidazole 1c and 2- (4-nitrophenyl) - {4,5-[2,2'-Bis(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)vinyl] -1-H-imidazole 1d which bear an imidazole core, were synthesized for the first time via intermediate 1,6-Bis(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)hexa-1,5-diene-3,4-dion with different aldehydes. The structures of the new derivatives were confirmed by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and FT-IR. The optical properties such as absorption and emission maxima, Stokes' shift and quantum yield values were investigated in solvents of toluene, tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile. The products show intense emission maxima in the range of 440-630 nm. The imidazole derivatives exhibited excellent photostabilities.