Synthesis, Photophysics and Optical Limiting Properties of Functionalized Benzofuran Derivatives

Abstract

A series of functionalized benzofuran derivatives (2, 3, 4) have been strategically synthesized and characterized via NMR spectra and high resolution mass spectrometry. To enhance the solubility in organic common solvents, long alkyl groups were introduced into the parent skeletons in compounds 2 b, 3 b, 4 b. The photophysical properties were examined in a comparative manner. The self-assembly behaviors were further studied, indicating that the regular nanostructures could be tuned by the change of the ratio of THF and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) aqueous solution. Moreover, 3 b presented nonlinear optical (NLO) response recorded through open-aperture Z-scan way. The threshold of 3 b was 2.08 J/cm2, which is lower than that of the state-of-the-art material C60 (4.01 J/cm2) under the similar operation condition, implying that such molecule might be promising optical limiting (OL) materials.