N-acryloyl-4-aminosalicylic acid (4-AMSA), monomer (HL) and 5-(4′-alkyl phenylazo)-N-acryloyl-4-aminosalicylic acid (HL_n) are synthesized and characterized with various physico-chemical techniques. Thin films of 5-(4′-alkyl phenylazo)-N-acryloyl-4-aminosalicylic acid (HL_n) are prepared by spin coating technique. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of 4-aminosalicylic acid (4-ASA) and its derivatives are investigated in powder and thin film forms. Thermal properties of the compounds are investigated by thermogravemetric analysis (TGA). The optical energy gap and the type of optical transition are investigated in the wavelength range (200-2500 nm) for 4-ASA, HL and HL_n. The values of fundamental energy gap (E_g) are in the range 3.60-3.69 eV for all compounds and the type of optical transition is found to be indirect allowed. The onset energy gap Eg - appeared only for azodye compounds is found to be in the range 0.95-1.55 eV depending on the substituent function groups. The refractive index, n, shows a normal dispersion in the wavelength range 650-2500 nm, while shows anomalous dispersion in the wavelength rang 200-650 nm. The dispersion parameters ε₈, ε_L, E_d, E_o and N/^{m -} are calculated. The photoluminescence phenomena (PL) appear for thin films of 4-ASA and its derivatives show three main emission transitions.