Dendronized Hyperbranched Polymer: A New Architecture for Second-Order Nonlinear Optics

Organic/polymeric second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, which rely on the poling-induced non-centrosymmetric arrangement of NLO chromophores, have played a very important role in laser technology and optical fiber communication, due to their ultra-fast response speed, excellent machining performance and low dielectric constant. However, the NLO chromophores have the large dipole moments with strong intramolecular charge transfer, which lead to the intermolecular electrostatic interactions to tend to the centrosymmetric arrangement and decrease the poling efficiency. Since the special three-dimensional spatial separation can minimize these strong intermolecular electrostatic interactions during poling process, dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers have been considered as better topology for the next generation of highly efficient NLO materials. In 2013, by the attachment of low generation dendrimers to the hyperbranched backbone, a new dendritic architecture of dendronized hyperbranched polymer (DHP) was proposed for improving the comprehensive performance of NLO materials. Recent results showed many advantages of DHPs in NLO field, such as easy syntheses, large NLO coefficients and high orientation stability, etc. In this review, the latest advancement of DHPs, including the design principle, synthesis, as well as their application as NLO materials is summarized. The new opportunities arising from DHPs are also summarized in the future perspective.

Hyperbranched Macromolecules: From Synthesis to Applications

Hyperbranched macromolecules (HMs, also called hyperbranched polymers) are highly branched three-dimensional (3D) structures in which all bonds converge to a focal point or core, and which have a multiplicity of reactive chain-ends. This review summarizes major types of synthetic strategies exploited to produce HMs, including the step-growth polycondensation, the self-condensing vinyl polymerization and ring opening polymerization. Compared to linear analogues, the globular and dendritic architectures of HMs endow new characteristics, such as abundant functional groups, intramolecular cavities, low viscosity, and high solubility. After discussing the general concepts, synthesis, and properties, various applications of HMs are also covered. HMs continue being materials for topical interest, and thus this review offers both concise summary for those new to the topic and for those with more experience in the field of HMs.

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.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Pd Nanoparticles and Catalysis Application for Suzuki Coupling Reactions

A facile and efficient method was developed for the synthesis of highly active palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) by microwave-assisted chemical reduction. The PdNPs with different morphology were prepared with or without KBr (capping agent) using ethylene glycol (EG) and citric acid (CA) as reducing agent in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), respectively. The as-prepared PdNPs were characterized by (UV-Visible Spectrophotometer) UV-Vis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results showed that the PdNPs reduced by EG without KBr (PdNPs-EG) has smaller particle size than other PdNPs. The remarkable catalytic activity of the PdNPs catalysts are obtained using a low amount of PdNPs (0.1 mmol‰) using K2CO3 as base and EtOH/H2O as solvent toward Suzuki coupling reactions of aryl bromides and phenylboronic acid for 15 min.

Pd(OAc)2 in WERSA: a novel green catalytic system for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions at room temperature

A recyclable/reusable Pd(OAc)2 catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction condition in neat "Water Extract of Rice Straw Ash" (WERSA) at room temperature was developed. This is a ligand/base/promoter/additive/organic media free protocol.

Hyperbranched pyridylphenylene polymers based on the first-generation dendrimer as a multifunctional monomer

The A₆ + B₂ approach to hyperbranched polymers based on the dendrimer (A₆) as a multifunctional monomer and bis(cyclopentadienone)s (B₂) holds promise for the one-pot synthesis of well-defined polymers with perfect dendritic fragments in the backbone.

Hyperbranched polymers: advances from synthesis to applications

This review summarizes the advances in hyperbranched polymers from the viewpoint of structure, click synthesis and functionalization towards their applications in the last decade.

Functional hyperbranched polymers with advanced optical, electrical and magnetic properties

This review summarizes the recent progress in functional HBPs and their application in optics, electronics and magnetics, including light-emitting devices, aggregation-induced emission materials, nonlinear optical materials, chemosensors, solar cells, magnetic materials, etc., and provides outlooks for further exploration in the field.

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.

Comparison of nonlinear optical chromophores containing different conjugated electron-bridges: the relationship between molecular structure-properties and macroscopic electro-optic activities of materials

In electro-optic (EO) materials, realization of large EO coefficients for organic EO materials requires the simultaneous optimization of chromophore first hyperpolarizability, acentric order, molecular shape etc.

Dendrimers with large nonlinear optical performance by introducing isolation chromophore, utilizing the Ar/ArF self-assembly effect, and modifying the topological structure

By the combination of divergent and convergent approach, a new series of NLO dendrimers (G1-PFPh-NS-GL to G3-PFPh-NS-GL) was conveniently prepared with satisfied yields through the powerful "click chemistry" reaction, in which perfluoroaromatic rings were introduced in the periphery, two types of chromophores were arranged with regular AB structure, and their topological structure was improved to a more spherical shape. All the dendrimers demonstrated good processability, and G1-PFPh-NS-GL exhibited the highest NLO effect of 221 pm/V among the three dendrimers.

From nitro- to sulfonyl-based chromophores: improvement of the comprehensive performance of nonlinear optical dendrimers

Through the combination of the divergent and convergent approaches, coupled with the utilization of the powerful Sharpless "click-chemistry" reaction, two series of sulfonyl-based high-generation NLO dendrimers were conveniently prepared with high purity and in satisfactory yields. Thanks to the perfect three-dimensional (3D) spatial isolation from the highly branched structure and the isolation effect of the exterior benzene moieties and the interior triazole rings, these dendrimers exhibited large second harmonic generation coefficient (d33) values up to 181 pm V(-1), which, to the best of our knowledge, is the highest value so far for polymers containing sulfonyl-based chromophore moieties. Meanwhile, compared with the nitro-chromophore-based analogues, their optical transparency and NLO stability were improved in a large degree, due to the lower dipole moment (μ) and the special main-chain structure of sulfonyl-based chromophore in these dendrimers.