Synthesis and investigation of various properties of a novel series of nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores bearing dicyanovinyl (DCV) moiety

Abstract

A series of new nonlinear optic (NLO) chromophores containing a dimethine (vinyl) as π-bridge and electron acceptor dicyanomethine and different electron-donating groups and heterocyclic rings were synthesized. The structures of synthesized dyes were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (1H/13C NMR) and mass spectrometry. Their electronic absorption spectra were evaluated in MeOH, THF and DCM. The absorption maxima exhibited little bathochromic shifts for each dye with the increasing dielectric constants of the solvents. The synthesized dyes can absorb in the range of 354–506 nm. The analysis of the electronic spectra showed that the dyes having electron-donating groups or heterocyclic rings showed significant changes relative to the model dye which has no substituent on the phenyl ring. In addition, the absorption maxima moved to the longest wavelength for dye containing N,N-dibutylamino substituent. Experimental absorption wavelengths for the compounds were found to be in good agreement with those predicted using the Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) [B3LYP/6-311 + g(d,p)]. Furthermore, the second order NLO responses of the dyes were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The study reveals that the synthesized chromophores have large first hyperpolarizability (β) values, hence they may have potential applications in the development of NLO materials. For determination of the thermal behaviors of the compounds, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were done. The result showed that all the chromophores exhibited good thermal stabilities with the decomposition temperatures (Td) greater than 260 °C.