Novel Disubstituted Phenylene‐Linked Bis‐imidazole Derivatives: Facile Synthesis and Optical Properties

Six novel disubstituted phenylene‐linked bis‐imidazole derivatives, 3a – 3f , were prepared by a one‐pot, microwave‐assisted method under solvent‐free conditions, in yields ranging from 61.6 to 85.6%. The new compounds were characterized by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, UV/VIS, and fluorescence spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, as well as by elemental analyses. The influence of substituents and solvents on the optical properties of 3a – 3f was investigated. It was found that there is little influence on absorption and excitation spectra in contrast to emission spectra. Compounds 3a – 3f exhibit strong fluorescence in solution, their fluorescence quantum yields ranging from 0.27 to 0.96.