Synthesis and photophysical insights of new fused N-heterocyclic derivatives with isoquinoline skeleton

Abstract Six new fused isoquinoline based compounds (compounds 5a–c with pyrrolo[2,1-a] isoquinoline structure and compounds 6a–c with imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline skeleton) have been synthesized using the [3 + 2] cycloaddition of the several in situ generated cycloimmonium ylides to ethyl propiolate or ethyl cyanoformate. All the synthesized compounds have been investigated in solution by UV–VIS absorption, steady and time-resolved fluorescence methods. The effect of the substituents on the spectral characteristics has been demonstrated. These derivatives displayed an intense emission between 360 and 420 nm. The emission quantum yields (Φ = 0.54–0.64) of pyrroloisoquinoline derivatives in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were significantly higher than those of imidazoquinolines (0.03–0.16). The fluorescence decay of isoquinoline derivatives follows a biexponential law. A noticeable response of these isoquinoline derivatives to sodium hydroxide was observed.