Novel coumarin-iminophosphorane (IPP) fluorophores that have stable resonance contributions from aza-ylides were formed by using the nonhydrolysis Staudinger reaction. The N=P formation reaction kinetics obey the conventional Staudinger reaction. The absorption and emission profiles of the coumarin-IPP derivatives can be fine-tuned: an electron-donating group at PPh3 enhances absorption and fluorescence, whereas an electron-withdrawing group at C-3 drives absorption and emission peaks toward blue-light wavelengths. Two-photon adsorption, accompanied by anti-Stokes fluorescence, is achieved under near-infrared femtosecond laser excitation.
