Expeditious Synthesis of Fluorescent Bis(phenylfuryl)benzenes

Versatile fluorescent polyaromatic compounds of alternating benzene and furan rings, para- and meta-bis(5-phenylfur-3-yl)benzenes, were expeditiously synthesized by double Mn(OAc)(3)-catalyzed oxidative decarbonylation and Paal-Knorr reactions of.-ketoesters, prepared from the conjugate addition of ethyl acetoacetate to paraand meta-bis(chalcones). Stronger fluorescence intensity was observed for meta-bis(phenylfuryl)benzene with ortho-methoxy substitution, whereas longer fluorescence wavelength was observed for parabis(phenylfuryl)benzene with para-methoxy substitution.