Abstract This paper evaluates the use of diaroyl (methanato) boron difluoride compounds for designing efficient fluorescent probes through two-photon absorption. Three different pathways allowing for the syntheses of symmetrical and dissymmetrical molecules are reported. The stable diaroyl (methanato) boron difluoride derivatives can be easily obtained in good yields. They exhibit a large one-photon absorption that is easily tuned in the near- ...