Synthesis and Nonlinearity of Triene Chromophores Containing the Cyclohexene Ring Structure

A series of conjugated donor-acceptor trienes in which the central double bond is incorporated into an unsaturated isophorone, verbenone, or chromone ring has been synthesized. In each case, the donor group consists of an amine and an aromatic or heterocyclic ring system, and the acceptor is the dicyanomethylidene group. The nonlinear optical properties of each of the compounds has been measured and correlated with its structure. The dipole moments and molecular hyperpolarizabilities of these compounds, like those of other conjugated polyenes, are large enough to be used as the active components of electrooptic polymers. Unlike other donor-acceptor polyenes, however, these compounds exhibit the thermal stability required for such applications.