A combined experimental and theoretical study of the two-photon absorption properties of a series of quadrupolar molecules possessing a highly electron-rich heterocyclic core, pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole is presented. In agreement with quantum-chemical calculations, we observe large two-photon absorption (2PA) cross-section values, σ2PA ~ 102–103 GM (1GM = 1050 cm4 s photon−1) at wavelengths 650–700 nm, corresponding to the 2-photon allowed but 1-photon forbidden transitions. The calculations also predict that increased planarity of this molecule via removal of two N-substituents leads to further increase in the σ2PA values. Surprisingly, the most quadrupolar pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole derivative bearing two 4-nitrophenyl substituents at positions 2 and 5 demonstrates very strong solvatofluorochromic effect, with the fluorescence quantum yield as high as 0.96 in cyclohexane, while the fluorescence vanishes in DMSO.

The favorable photophysical properties enabled the rapid growth of classical, π-expanded and heteroatom substituted rhodols in fluorescent imaging.

Electron-deficient π-conjugated functional dyes lie at the heart of organic optoelectronics. Adding nitro groups to aromatic compounds usually quenches their fluorescence via inter-system crossing (ISC) or internal conversion (IC). While strong electronic coupling of the nitro groups with the dyes ensures the benefits from these electron-withdrawing substituents, it also leads to fluorescence quenching. Here, we demonstrate how such electronic coupling affects the photophysics of acceptor–donor–acceptor fluorescent dyes, with nitrophenyl acceptors and a pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyrrole donor. The position of the nitro groups and the donor-acceptor distance strongly affect the fluorescence properties of the bis-nitrotetraphenylpyrrolopyrroles. Concurrently, increasing solvent polarity quenches the emission that recovers upon solidifying the media. Intramolecular charge transfer (CT) and molecular dynamics, therefore, govern the fluorescence of these nitro-aromatics. While balanced donor-acceptor coupling ensures fast radiative deactivation and slow ISC essential for large fluorescence quantum yields, vibronic borrowing accounts for medium dependent IC via back CT. These mechanistic paradigms set important design principles for molecular photonics and electronics.