5‐Aryl Substituted 2‐(2‐Methoxyphenyl)benzoxazoles with Large Stokes Shifts: Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Optical Properties.

2‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)benzoxazole (MBO) displays similar photophysical properties to 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)benzoxazole (HBO), but it lacks the large Stokes shifts necessary for fluorescence microscopy applications. In this paper, we report the 5‐substitution of MBO with aryl groups to produce 2‐(4‐methoxy‐[1,1'‐biphenyl]‐3‐yl)benzoxazoles (MBBOs) with large Stokes shifts. The synthesis of MBBOs 6–15 was accomplished in moderate to good yields by microwave‐assisted Sonogashira cross couplings. Crystal structures for compounds 6–9 and 15 are provided. MBBOs 6–10, 12, and 14 displayed considerably blue‐shifted absorption maxima and slight bathochromic shifts of their fluorescence maxima relative to the unsubstituted MBO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]