A series of H-shaped chromophores with two parallel and non-conjugated D-π-A units have been synthesized, in which a 9, 10-dihydroanthracene was employed as molecular backbone. The synthesis of these H-shaped chromophores 9a–11a was accomplished via an eight-step reaction, including double Claisen rearrangement, hydroboration–oxidation, Rieche formylation reaction, Knoevenagel condensation and Corey–Fuchs reaction, with ...