Novel functional materials based on optically responsive molecules are widely used today in applications that range from solar cell design, to organic electronics and optical chemical sensors. Iminocoumarine derivatives, bearing a methyl group on the benzimidazole moiety, are heteroaromatic systems with attractive optical properties. Novel iminocoumarine derivatives were synthesised with extendend conjugating π- system across the molecule. The photophysical properties of the synthesised compounds were studied in pH buffer and ethanol solutions, and the effects of different solvents, pH and metal cations on their optical response determined. Iminocoumarine derivatives were also immobilised in several polymer matrices (PVC, pHEMA, sol-gel, PMMA) with different physical properties.