Fine-tuning of organic optical double-donor NLO chromophores with DA-supported functional groups

New strategic chromophores with updated fine-tuning of previously reported BLD1 and BLD3 chromophores were designed. BLD1 and BLD3 have silicon functional groups on the donor unit, and the bridge has a good chance of self-assembling, so in the present study we fine-tuned the isolating groups to the bulky cyclic alkene to improve their dipole moment and organic electro-optic (OEO) properties as well. To demonstrate the impact of cyclic alkenes on the electron-donating groups in sensible NLO chromophore designs, a thorough analysis and comparison of the chromophore synthesis, UV-Vis calculations, solvatochromic behavior of the chromophore, DFT quantum mechanical calculations, thermal stabilities, and much lower dipole moments was conducted.

Highly Efficient and Stable Binary Cross-Linkable/ Self-Assembled Organic Nonlinear Optical Molecular Glasses

The development of electro-optical materials with high chromophore loading levels that possess ultrahigh electro-optic coefficients and high long term alignment stability is a challenging topic. Anthracene-maleimide Diels-Alder (DA) reaction and π-π interaction of Anthracene-pentafluorobenzene and benzene-pentafluorobenzene are developed for making highly efficient binary cross-linkable/self-assembled dendritic chromophores FZL1-FZL4. A covalently or non-covalently cross-linked network is formed by DA reaction or π-π interaction after electric field poling orientation, which greatly improves the long-term alignment stability of the materials. An electro-optic coefficient up to 266 pm V-1 and glass transition temperature as high as 178 °C are achieved in cross-linked film FZL1/FZL2, and 272-308 pm V-1 is achieved for self-assembled films FZL1/FZL4 and FZL3/FZL4 due to high chromophore density (3.09-4.02 × 1020 molecules cm-3 ). Long-term alignment stability tests show that after heating at 85 °C for over 500 h, 99.73% of the initial r33 value is maintained for poled crosslinked electro-optic films 1:1 FZL1/FZL2. The poled self-assembled electro-optic films 1:1 FZL1/FZL4 and 1:1 FZL3/FZL4 can still maintain more than 97.11% and 98.23%, respectively, of the original electro-optic coefficient after being placed at room temperature for 500 h. The excellent electro-optic coefficient and stability of the material indicate the practical application prospects of organic electro-optic materials.

Two state "ON-OFF" NLO switch based on coordination complexes of iron and cobalt containing isomeric ligand: a DFT study

Coordination complexes are interesting materials for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications due to their large hyperpolarizability values. Moreover, switchable NLO response is also important in coordination complexes. Herein, we report two state ON-OFF switchable NLO contrast of coordination complexes of Fe and Co containing isomeric ligands. The optical, UV-visible, and electronic properties besides the "ON-OFF" switching effect are calculated using the CAM-B3LYP/6-31+G (d) method. The NLO responses of ligand-metal isomers are qualitatively evaluated through variation in charge transference (CT) style through TD-DFT. The higher β o in each isomeric pair is strongly dependent on the HOMO-LUMO gap. The isomer 4b with lowest HOMO-LUMO gap shows the highest NLO response. The charge transfer pattern in these complexes results in variation of their β o values. The notable β o contrast of 21.15 in isomeric pairs 3a and 3b makes these complexes a favorable material for genuine NLO switches. Hence, the outcome of the current investigation reveals that these ligand-metal isomeric complexes exhibit a two-state switch "ON-OFF" effect.

Composing NLO Chromophore as a Puzzle: Electrochemistry-based Approach to Design and Effectiveness

A series of D-π-A, D-π-D'-π-A, D-π-A'-π-A nonlinear optical chromophores with vinylene π-electron bridges or bridges with π-deficient/π-excessive heterocyclic moieties along with the corresponding precursors D-vinylene, D-π-D', D'-π-A, D-π-A' and A'-π-A are synthesized and studied both experimentally and computationally. The effect of the heterocycle in the π-electron bridge on the oxidation/reduction potentials and the energy gap (ΔE^el ) is investigated in detail. The properties of the D-π-A'(D')-π-A chromophores are shown to correlate with those of building blocks: the oxidation potential is determined by the D-vinylene, and the reduction potential is determined by A'(D')-π-A truncated compounds. The contribution of the acceptor to the oxidation potential of chromophores in comparison with those of the precursors was estimated and analyzed in terms of electronic communication between the end groups. A good correlation between the ΔE^el and the chromophores' first hyperpolarizability is revealed.

Photochemical Synthesis of Nonplanar Small Molecules with Ultrafast Nonradiative Decay for Highly Efficient Phototheranostics

There has been much recent progress in the development of photothermal agents (PTAs) for biomedical and energy applications. Synthesis of organic PTAs typically involves noble metal catalysts and high temperatures. On the other hand, photochemical synthesis, as an alternative and green chemical technology, has obvious merits such as low cost, energy efficiency, and high yields. However, photochemical reactions have rarely been employed for the synthesis of PTAs. Herein, a facile and high-yield photochemical reaction is exploited for synthesizing nonplanar small molecules (NSMs) containing strong Michler's base donors and a tricyanoquinodimethane acceptor as high-performance PTAs. The synthesized NSMs show interesting photophysical properties including good absorption for photons of over 1000 nm wavelength, high near-infrared extinction coefficients, and excellent photothermal performance. Upon assembling the NSMs into nanoparticles (NSMN), they exhibit good biocompatibility, high photostability, and excellent photothermal conversion efficiency of 75%. Excited-state dynamic studies reveal that the NSMN has ultrafast nonradiative decay after photoexcitation. With these unique properties, the NSMN achieves efficient in vivo photoacoustic imaging and photothermal tumor ablation. This work demonstrates the superior potential of photochemical reactions for the synthesis of high-performance molecular PTAs.

RhIII-Catalyzed C-H (Het)arylation/Vinylation of N-2,6-Difluoroaryl Acrylamides

Rh^III-catalyzed sp² C-H cross-coupling of acrylamides with organoboron reactants has been accomplished using a commercially available N-2,6-difluoroaryl acrylamide auxiliary. A broad range of aryl and vinyl boronates as well as a variety of heterocyclic boronates with strong coordinating ability can serve as the coupling partners. This transformation proceeds under moderate reaction conditions with excellent functional group tolerance and high regioselectivity.

Cu-Catalyzed C-H Alkenylation of Benzoic Acid and Acrylic Acid Derivatives with Vinyl Boronates

An efficient Cu-catalyzed C-H alkenylation with acyclic and cyclic vinyl boronates was realized for the first time under mild conditions. The scope of the vinyl borons and the compatibility with functional groups including heterocycles are superior than Pd-catalyzed C-H coupling with vinyl borons, providing a reliable access to multisubstituted alkenes and dienes. Subsequent hydrogenation of the product from the internal vinyl borons will lead to installation of secondary alkyls.

Push-pull thiophene chromophores for electro-optic applications: from 1D linear to β-branched structures

We report the synthesis and characterization of a novel series of push-pull chromophores bearing 1D linear and β-branched thiophenes as π-conjugated spacers between a 2,2,4,7-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline electron donor unit and dicyano- and tricyanovinylene electron acceptor groups. The effect of the introduction of β-thiophenes on the linear and nonlinear (NLO) optical properties as well as electrochemical and thermal data is studied in detail by performing a comparative study between the branched and 1D linear systems. In addition, a parallel DFT computational study is used to evaluate structure-property relationships. The non-linear optical behavior of the molecules both in solution and in solid state as electro-optic (EO) films using a guest-host approach shows very promising performance for electro-optic applications with high molecular first hyperpolarizabilities (μβ) of 4840 × 10^-48 esu and electro-optic coefficients r₃₃ reaching 650 pm V^-1. One highlight is that the electro-optic films of the β-branched chromophores are superior in terms of thermal stability in device operation as measured by a transmissive modified reflective Teng-Man method. This work provides guidelines for the design of improved electro-optic materials including β-branched chromophores which could be useful for practical EO applications, where both enhanced β and r₃₃ values together with chemical and thermal stability are necessary.

Deeply coloured and highly fluorescent dipolar merocyanines based on tricyanofuran

TCF as the acceptor group of merocyanines, having its own extended π-system, gives access to deeply coloured dyes exhibiting good fluorescence efficiency in the red and near-IR spectral range.

Optimizing the molecular structure of 1,1,7,7-tetramethyl julolidine fused furan based chromophores by introducing a heterocycle ring to achieve high electro-optic activity

Developing new organic chromophores with a large electro-optic coefficient (r₃₃) is highly desirable for fabricating electro-optic (EO) materials.

Electronic structure and large second-order non-linear optical property of COT derivatives - a theoretical exploration

A new strategy to design new molecules based on a fused hydrocarbon ring system comprising a COT ring and two 5-membered rings has been proposed for the study of second order NLO properties. The four charge transferring groups -NR2 (R = H, Li, Na and K) in conjunction with a sufficient number of electron withdrawing groups lead to significant variation of structural parameters and polarity. The charge transfer characteristics can be strongly modulated by introducing calcium metal atoms at suitable sites. Ca metal atoms end-capping the nitrogen ends of two adjacent -CN groups lead to electride character while a Ca metal atom bonded directly to the COT ring leads to greater charge transfer. The size of the alkali metal atom has been found to have a dramatic effect on the enhancement of first hyperpolarizability. The most significant electronic asymmetry induced by the larger potassium metal atom strongly enhances the magnitude of first hyperpolarizability. The variation of first hyperpolarizability has been satisfactorily explained in terms of TD-CAMB3LYP calculated spectroscopic parameters in light of the two-state model.

A comparison of optical, electrochemical and self-assembling properties of two structural isomers based on 1,6- and 1,8-pyrenedione chromophores

Near-IR absorbing, self-assembling pyrene donor–acceptor chromophore with low reduction potentials.

Structure–property analysis of julolidine-based nonlinear optical chromophores for the optimization of microscopic and macroscopic nonlinearity

A structure–property relation investigation revealed that the theoretical hyperpolarizability and experimental solvatochromism were more reliable in julolidine-based nonlinear optical chromophore design.

Synthesis of 2-julolidin-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction and studies of optical properties

Optically active bound-type bis-heterocycles were prepared by multicomponent reactions.

The synthesis of new double-donor chromophores with excellent electro-optic activity by introducing modified bridges

New double-donor chromophores were synthesized and large hyperpolarizability can be effectively translated into large electro-optic coefficients.

Facile bromine-termination of nonlinear optical chromophore: remarkable optimization in photophysical properties, surface morphology and electro-optic activity

This paper describes how a small molecular structure modification can enhance the microscopic and macroscopic properties of chromophore.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of novel julolidinyl-based nonlinear optical chromophores with enhanced electro-optic activity

Under microwave (MW) irradiation at a proper temperature, three chromophores (A, B and C) with julolidinyl-based donors and TCF or CF₃-Ph-TCF acceptors have been synthesized in high overall yields compared with the conventional heating method.

Synthesis and properties of a new second-order NLO chromophore containing the benzo[b]furan moiety for electro-optical materials

We have designed and synthesized a new chromophore having a 1,1,7,7-tetramethyljulolidine fused furan ring as the electron donor group to systematically investigate the role of the benzo[b]furan ring in NLO chromophores.

Novel electro-optic chromophores based on substituted benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene π-conjugated bridges

The electro-optic coefficient of benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene unit (BDT)-based chromophores was improved to 102 pm V⁻¹ with suitable isolation groups and electron donors.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel second-order nonlinear optical chromophore based on a new julolidine donor

A new chromophore was synthesized and the hyperpolarizability can be effectively translated into large electro-optic coefficients in poled polymers.