The two-photon absorption (2PA) of five symmetrical fluorenone-based molecules is studied by ferntosecond wavelength-tunable Z-scan, as well as quantum-chemical calculations. The molecules are transparent for wavelengths greater than 500 nm and two main one-photon absorption bands are observed in the blue region; one weak, centered at 450 nm, and a stronger one at approximately 360 nm. We observed a strong 2PA band located around 720 nm with maxima 2PA cross-sections between 100 and 230 GM. Quantum chemical calculations employing the response function formalism were performed at the Density Function Theory level to support the interpretation of the experimental nonlinear spectra. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.