Abstract Six novel asymmetric 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole derivatives containing naphthalene and stilbene units have been efficiently synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The UV–vis absorption maximum wavelength, fluorescence excitation wavelength, fluorescence emission wavelength and fluorescence quantum yield were measured in dilute tetrahydrofuran solution. The solvent ...