Tunable Chiral Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Chromophores Based on Helquat Dications.

Fourteen new dipolar cations have been synthesized, containing methoxy or tertiary amino electron donor groups attached to helquat (Hq) acceptors. These Hq derivatives have been characterized as their TfO- salts by using various techniques including NMR and electronic absorption spectroscopies. UV-vis spectra show intense, relatively low energy absorptions with λmax ≈ 400-600 nm, attributable to intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) excitations. Single-crystal X-ray structures have been solved for two of the chromophores, one as its PF6- salt, revealing centrosymmetric packing arrangements (space groups Pbca and P1̅). Molecular quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) responses have been determined directly by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) with a 800 nm laser, and indirectly via Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopy for the low energy absorption bands. The obtained static first hyperpolarizabilities ß0 range from moderate to large: (9-140) × 10-30 esu from HRS in MeCN and (44-580) × 10-30 esu from the Stark data in PrCN. The magnitude of ß0 increases upon either extending the π-conjugation length or replacing a methoxy with a tertiary amino electron donor substituent. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations on selected tertiary amino chromophores confirm that the low energy absorptions have ICT character. Relatively good agreement between the simulated and experimental UV-vis absorption spectra is achieved by using the CAM-B3LYP functional with the 6-311G(d) basis set. The ßtot values predicted by using DFT at the same level of theory are large ((472-1443) × 10-30 esu in MeCN). Both the theoretical and experimental results show that para-conjugation between Hq and electron donor fragments is optimal, and enlarging the Hq unit is inconsequential with respect to the molecular quadratic NLO response.

Ferrocenyl helquats: unusual chiral organometallic nonlinear optical chromophores.

Three new dipolar cations have been synthesised, containing ferrocenyl (Fc) electron donor groups attached to helquat (Hq) acceptors. These organometallic Hq derivatives have been characterised as their TfO- salts by using various techniques including NMR and electronic absorption spectroscopies and electrochemical measurements. UV-vis spectra show multiple intense low energy absorptions attributable to intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) excitations. Each compound displays a reversible Fc+/0 redox process, together with two reversible one-electron reductions of the Hq fragment. Molecular quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) responses have been determined by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering at 1064 nm, and Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopic studies on the visible absorption bands. The obtained first hyperpolarizabilities ß are moderate, consistent with the relatively short π-conjugation lengths between the Fc and attached pyridinium group. A single-crystal X-ray structure has been solved for one of the complexes as its PF6- salt, revealing a centrosymmetric packing in the triclinic space group P1[combining macron]. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations indicate that the lowest energy absorption bands have mainly metal-to-ligand charge-transfer character. The donor orbitals involved in the electronic transitions forming the next lowest energy ICT band also have substantial contributions from the Fe atom. Good agreement between the simulated and experimental UV-vis absorption spectra is achieved by using the PBE0 functional with the 6-311++G(d)/LANL2DZ mixed basis set, and the theoretical ß values are reasonably large. Oxidation of the Fc unit is predicted to cause the ßtot value to decrease by more than 80% in one of the complexes.

Light-driven biocatalytic reduction of α,ß-unsaturated compounds by ene reductases employing transition metal complexes as photosensitizers.

Efficient and cost effective nicotinamide cofactor regeneration is essential for industrial-scale bio-hydrogenations employing flavin-containing biocatalysts such as the Old Yellow Enzymes. A direct flavin regeneration system using visible light to initiate a photoredox cycle and drive biocatalysis is described, and shown to be effective in driving biocatalytic activated alkene reduction. Using Ru(ii) or Ir(iii) complexes as photosensitizers, coupled with an electron transfer mediator (methyl viologen) and sacrificial electron donor (triethanolamine) drives catalytic turnover of two Old Yellow Enzymes with multiple oxidative substrates. Therefore, there is great potential in the development of light-driven biocatalytic systems, providing an alternative to the reliance on enzyme-based cofactor regeneration systems.

Helquat Dyes: Helicene-like Push-Pull Systems with Large Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Responses.

Helquat dyes combine a cationic hemicyanine with a helicene-like motif to form a new blueprint for chiral systems with large and tunable nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. We report a series of such species with characterization, including determination of static first hyperpolarizabilities ß0 via hyper-Rayleigh scattering and Stark spectroscopy. The measured ß0 values are similar to or substantially larger than that of the commercial chromophore E-4'-(dimethylamino)-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations on two of the new cations are used to probe their molecular electronic structures and optical properties. Related molecules are expected to show bulk second-order NLO effects in even nonpolar media, overcoming a key challenge in developing useful materials.

Synthesis and properties of new mononuclear Ru(II)-based photocatalysts containing 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl ligands.

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of eleven new 4,4'-diphenyl-2,2'-bipyridyl derivatives (N^N) with varying 4- or 3,5-substituents on the phenyl rings are reported. The molecular structures of two of these compounds, 4,4'-bis(3,5-diheptyloxyphenyl)-2,2'-bipyridyl and 4,4'-bis(3,5-di-4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoropentyloxyphenyl)-2,2'-bipyridyl are confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Fourteen neutral complexes trans-Ru(II)Cl2(N^N)(CO)2 are prepared by reacting the new proligands and three known ones with the polymeric precursor [Ru(II)Cl2(CO)2]n, and their optical and electrochemical properties are studied. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations have been carried out on selected complexes in order to rationalise their electronic structures and absorption properties. The low energy electronic absorption bands have metal-to-ligand charge-transfer and ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer (LLCT) character, but these dominate only in the 4-substituted species. In the 3,5-disubstituted ones, intraligand charge-transfer (ILCT) within the bpy ligands becomes more important. The complexes show only irreversible reductive electrochemistry and no signs of polymerisation. The photocatalytic oxidation behaviour of selected trans-Ru(II)Cl2(N^N)(CO)2 complexes and their mono-aquo derivatives [Ru(II)(H2O)(CO)2Cl(N^N)](+) with 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol is studied. Turnover numbers of up to ca. 130 are achieved when using [Ru(II)(bpy)3](2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridyl) as photosensitizer and [Co(III)(NH3)5Cl](2+) as a sacrificial oxidant.

Uniting Ruthenium(II) and Platinum(II) Polypyridine Centers in Heteropolymetallic Complexes Giving Strong Two-Photon Absorption.

New trinuclear RuPt2 and heptanuclear RuPt6 complex salts are prepared by attaching Pt(II) 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine (tpy) moieties to Ru(II) 4,4':2',2":4",4"'-quaterpyridine (qpy) complexes. Characterization includes single crystal X-ray structures for both polymetallic species. The visible absorption bands are primarily due to Ru(II) → qpy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions, according to time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. These spectra change only slightly on Pt coordination, while the orange-red emission from the complexes shows corresponding small red-shifts, accompanied by decreases in intensity. Cubic molecular nonlinear optical behavior has been assessed by using Z-scan measurements. These reveal relatively high two-photon absorption (2PA) cross sections σ2, with maximal values of 301 GM at 834 nm (RuPt2) and 523 GM at 850 nm (RuPt6) when dissolved in methanol or acetone, respectively. Attaching Pt(II)(tpy) moieties triples or quadruples the 2PA activities when compared with the Ru(II)-based cores.

Cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes of deprotonated N-methylbipyridinium ligands: effects of quaternised N centre position on luminescence.

Six new tricationic Ir(III) complexes of cyclometalating ligands derived from 1-methyl-2-(2'-pyridyl)pyridinium or 1-methyl-4-(2'-pyridyl)pyridinium are described. These complexes of the form [Ir(III)(C^N)2(N^N)](3+) (C^N = cyclometalating ligand; N^N = α-diimine) have been isolated and characterised as their PF6(-) and Cl(-) salts. Four of the PF6(-) salts have been studied by X-ray crystallography, and structures have been obtained also for two complex salts containing MeCN and Cl(-) or two Cl(-) ligands instead of N^N. The influence of the position of the quaternised N atom in C^N and the substituents on N^N on the electronic/optical properties are compared with those of the analogous complexes where C^N derives from 1-methyl-3-(2'-pyridyl)pyridinium (B. J. Coe, et al., Dalton Trans., 2015, 44, 15420). Voltammetric studies reveal one irreversible oxidation and multiple reduction processes which are mostly reversible. The new complexes show intramolecular charge-transfer absorptions between 350 and 450 nm, and exhibit bright green luminescence, with λmax values in the range 508-530 nm in both aqueous and acetonitrile solutions. In order to gain insights into the factors that govern the emission properties, density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations have been carried out. The results confirm that the emission arises largely from triplet excited states of the C^N ligand ((3)LC), with some triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) contributions.

Crystal structure of [1,1'''-bis-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4,4':2',2'':4'',4'''-quaterpyridine-1,1'''-diium-κ(2) N (1'),N (1'')]bis-[2-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl-κ(2) N,C (1)]iridium(III) tris-(hexa-fluorido-phosphate) aceto-nitrile tris-olvate.

In the title compound, [Ir(C11H8N)2(C28H20N8)](PF6)3·3CH3CN or [Ir(III)(ppy)2{(2-pym)2qpy(2+)}](PF6)3·3CH3CN (ppy = deprotonated 2-phenyl-pyridine, pym = pyrimidyl and qpy = 4,4':2',2'':4'',4'''-quaterpyrid-yl), the Ir(3+) cation is coordinated by two C atoms and four N atoms in a slightly distorted octa-hedral geometry. The asymmetric unit consists of one complex trication, three hexa-fluorido-phosphate anions and three aceto-nitrile solvent mol-ecules. The average Ir-C distance is 2.011 (14) Å, the average Ir-N(ppy) distance is 2.05 (6) Šand the average Ir-N(qpy) distance is longer at 2.132 (10) Å. The dihedral angles within the 4,4'-bipyridyl units are 31.5 (6) and 23.8 (7)°, while those between the 2-pym and attached pyridyl rings are rather smaller, at 11.7 (9) and 7.1 (9)°. The title compound was refined as a two-component inversion twin.

Water-soluble Ir(iii) complexes of deprotonated N-methylbipyridinium ligands: fluorine-free blue emitters.

New blue or blue-green emitting iridium complexes have been synthesised with cyclometalating ligands derived from the 1-methyl-3-(2'-pyridyl)pyridinium cation. Efficient luminescence is observed in MeCN or aqueous solutions, with a large range of lifetimes in the µs region and relatively high quantum yields.

Functional helquats: helical cationic dyes with marked, switchable chiroptical properties in the visible region.

Helquat dyes are the first helicene-like cationic styryl dyes obtained as separate enantiomers. Their remarkable chiroptical properties are due to the unique combination of a cationic hemicyanine chromophore and a helicene-like motif. The magnitude of the ECD response and the pH switching along with their positioning in the visible region are unprecedented among helicenoids.

Theoretical studies on two-dimensional nonlinear optical chromophores with pyrazinyl cores and organic or ruthenium(II) ammine electron donors.

Density functional theory calculations have been carried out on twelve cationic, 2D nonlinear optical chromophores with pyrazinylbis(pyridinium) electron acceptors. These species contain either 4-(methoxy/dimethylamino)phenyl or pyridyl-coordinated {Ru(II)(NH3)5}(2+)/trans-{Ru(II)(NH3)4(py)}(2+) (py = pyridine) electron donor groups. The results are compared with data obtained by using experimental techniques including hyper-Rayleigh scattering and Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopy previously (Coe, B. J.; et al. Inorg. Chem. 2010, 49, 10718; J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, 8550). The B3LYP/6-311G(d) level of theory models the visible absorption spectra in MeCN for the -NMe2 derivatives relatively well, whereas CAM-B3LYP/6-311G(d) gives better results for the -OMe-substituted species. These spectra are dominated by intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) bands. Static first hyperpolarizabilities ß0 are computed also at the B3LYP/6-311G(d) level. The overall extent of prediction of trends in the ICT bands and ß0 responses is partial, with the main discrepancies relating to the progression from one to two electron donor groups. The experimental data show that this structural change red-shifts the ICT bands and increases ß0 significantly, but only the second trend is reproduced to some extent by the calculations. The UV-vis absorption spectra of the Ru complexes in MeCN are modeled relatively well with B3LYP and the LANL2DZ/6-311G(d) mixed basis set, including 100 excited states. However, again, some degree of disagreement between theory and experiment is evident, even when a larger basis set like def2-TZVP is used for Ru. In particular, substantial red shifts are predicted on adding a third metal center, whereas the measured spectra show corresponding small blue shifts. The experimental trend of the total ß0 value increasing on moving from one to two Ru centers is predicted in the gas phase, but not in MeCN. For both classes of chromophore, the ß(xxx) tensor component dominates in the asymmetric species, whereas ß(xxy) is the largest component for their 2-fold symmetric counterparts.

Synthesis, structures, and optical properties of ruthenium(II) complexes of the tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane ligand.

Four new complex salts [Ru(II)Cl(Tpm)(L(A))2][PF6]n [Tpm = tris(1-pyrazolyl)methane; n = 1, L(A) = pyridine (py) 1 or ethyl isonicotinate (EIN) 2; n = 3, L(A) = N-methyl-4,4'-bipyridinium (MeQ(+)) 3 or N-phenyl-4,4'-bipyridinium (PhQ(+)) 4] have been prepared and characterized. Electronic absorption spectra show intense d → π* metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorption bands, while cyclic voltammetry reveals a reversible Ru(III/II) wave, accompanied by quasireversible or irreversible L(A)-based reductions for all except 1. Single crystal X-ray structures have been obtained for 1•Me2CO, 2, and 3•Me2CO. For 2-4, molecular first hyperpolarizabilities ß have been measured in acetonitrile solutions via the hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) technique at 800 nm. Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopic studies on the MLCT bands in frozen butyronitrile allow the indirect estimation of static first hyperpolarizabilities ß0. The various physical data obtained for 3 and 4 are compared with those reported previously for related cis-{Ru(II)(NH3)4}(2+) species [ Coe, B. J. et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005 , 127 , 4845 ]. TD-DFT calculations on the complexes in 1-4 confirm that their lowest energy absorption bands are primarily Ru(II) → L(A) MLCT in character, while Ru(II) → Tpm MLCT transitions are predicted at higher energies. DFT agrees with the Stark, but not the HRS measurements, in showing that ß0 increases with the electron-accepting strength of L(A). The 2D nature of the chromophores is evidenced by dominant ßxxy tensor components.

Theoretical modelling of photoswitching of hyperpolarisabilities in ruthenium complexes.

Static excited-state polarisabilities and hyperpolarisabilities of three Ru(II) ammine complexes are computed at the density functional theory (DFT) and several correlated ab initio levels. Most accurate modelling of the low energy electronic absorption spectrum is obtained with the hybrid functionals B3LYP, B3P86 or M06 for the complex [Ru(II)(NH3)5(MeQ(+))](3+) (MeQ(+)=N-methyl-4,4'-bipyridinium, 3) in acetonitrile. The match with experimental data is less good for [Ru(II)(NH3)5L](3+) (L=N-methylpyrazinium, 2; N-methyl-4-{E,E-4-(4-pyridyl)buta-1,3-dienyl}pyridinium, 4). These calculations confirm that the first dipole- allowed excited state (FDAES) has metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) character. Both the solution and gas-phase results obtained for 3 by using B3LYP, B3P86 or M06 are very similar to those from restricted active-space SCF second-order perturbation theory (RASPT2) with a very large basis set and large active space. However, the time-dependent DFT λ(max) predictions from the long-range corrected functionals CAM-B3LYP, LC-ωPBE and wB97XB and also the fully ab initio resolution of identity approximate coupled-cluster method (gas-phase only) are less accurate for all three complexes. The ground state (GS) two-state approximation first hyperpolarisability ß(2SA) for 3 from RASPT2 is very close to that derived experimentally via hyper-Rayleigh scattering, whereas the corresponding DFT-based values are considerably larger. The ß responses calculated by using B3LYP, B3P86 or M06 increase markedly as the π-conjugation extends on moving along the series 2→4, for both the GS and FDAES species. All three functionals predict substantial FDAES ß enhancements for each complex, increasing with the π-conjugation, up to about sevenfold for 4. Also, the computed second hyperpolarisabilities γ generally increase in the FDAES, but the results vary between the different functionals.

Tris-[4-(di-methyl-amino)-pyridine][tris(pyra-zol-1-yl)methane]--ruthenium(II) bis-(hexa-fluorido-phosphate) diethyl ether monosolvate.

In the title compound, [Ru(C10H10N6)(C7H10N2)3](PF6)2·C4H10O, the Ru(II) cation is coordinated by one tris-(1-pyrazol-yl)methane (Tpm) and three dimethylaminopyridine (dmap) ligands in a slightly distorted octa-hedral geometry. The asymmetric unit consists of one complex cation, two hexa-fluorido-phosphate anions and one diethyl ether solvent mol-ecule in general positions. Although quite a large number of ruthenium complexes of the facially coordinating tridentate Tpm ligand have been structurally characterized, this is only the second one containing three pyridyl co-ligands. The average Ru-N(Tpm) distance is 2.059 (12) Å, while the average Ru-N(dmap) [dmap = 4-(di-methyl-amino)-pyridine] distance is somewhat longer at 2.108 (13) Å. The orientation of the dmap ligands varies greatly, with dihedral angles between the pyridyl and opposite pyrazolyl rings of 14.3 (2), 23.2 (2) and 61.2 (2)°.

Communication between remote moieties in linear Ru-Ru-Ru trimetallic cyanide-bridged complexes.

In this article, we report the structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties of the cyanide-bridged complex salts trans-[(NC)Ru(II)(L)4(µ-CN)Ru(II)(py)4Cl]PF6 and trans-[Ru(II)(L)4{(µ-CN)Ru(II)(py)4Cl}2](PF6)2 (L = pyridine or 4-methoxypyridine). The mixed-valence forms of these compounds show a variety of metal-to-metal charge-transfer bands, including one arising from charge transfer between the remote ruthenium units. The latter is more intense when L = 4-methoxypyridine and points to the role of the bridging ruthenium unit in promoting mixing between the dπ orbitals of the terminal fragments.

Heptametallic, octupolar nonlinear optical chromophores with six ferrocenyl substituents.

New complexes with six ferrocenyl (Fc) groups connected to Zn(II) or Cd(II) tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) cores are described. A thorough characterisation of their BPh4(-) salts includes two single-crystal X-ray structures, highly unusual for such species with multiple, extended substituents. Intense, visible d(Fe(II))→π* metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands accompany the π→π* intraligand charge-transfer absorptions in the near UV region. Each complex shows a single, fully reversible Fe(III/II) wave when probed electrochemically. Molecular quadratic nonlinear optical (NLO) responses are determined by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering and Stark spectroscopy. The latter gives static first hyperpolarisabilities ß0 reaching as high as approximately 10(-27)  esu and generally increasing with π-conjugation extension. Z-scan cubic NLO measurements reveal high two-photon absorption cross-sections σ2 of up to 5400 GM in one case. DFT calculations reproduce the π-conjugation dependence of ß0, and TD-DFT predicts three transitions close in energy contributing to the MLCT bands. The lowest energy transition has octupolar character, whereas the other two are degenerate and dipolar in nature.

Incorporation of amphiphilic ruthenium(II) ammine complexes into Langmuir-Blodgett thin films with switchable quadratic nonlinear optical behavior.

Nine nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores with pyridinium electron acceptors have been synthesized by complexing new proligands with {Ru(II)(NH(3))(5)}(2+) electron-donor centers. The presence of long alkyl/fluoroalkyl chain substituents imparts amphiphilic properties, and these cationic complexes have been characterized as their PF(6)(-) salts by using various techniques including electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Each complex shows three reversible/quasireversible redox processes; a Ru(III/II) oxidation and two ligand-based reductions. The energies of the intense visible d → π* metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorptions correlate to some extent with the ligand reduction potentials. (1)H NMR spectroscopy also provides insights into the relative electron-withdrawing strengths of the new ligands. Single crystal X-ray structures have been determined for two of the proligand salts and one complex salt, [Ru(II)(NH(3))(5)(4-C(16)H(33)PhQ(+))]Cl(3)·3.25H(2)O (PhQ(+) = N-phenyl-4,4'-bipyridinium), showing centrosymmetric packing structures in each case. The PF(6)(-) analogue of the latter complex has been used to deposit reproducibly high-quality, multilayered Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) thin films. These films show a strong second harmonic generation (SHG) response from a 1064 nm laser; their MLCT absorbance increases linearly with the number of layers (N) and I(2ω)/I(ω)(2) (I(2ω) = intensity at 532 nm; I(ω) = intensity at 1064 nm) scales quadratically with N, consistent with homogeneous deposition. LB films on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass show electrochemically induced switching of the SHG response, with a decrease in activity of about 50% on Ru(II) → Ru(III) oxidation. This effect is reversible, but reproducible over only a few cycles before the signal from the Ru(II) species diminishes. This work extrapolates our original solution studies (Coe, B. J. et al. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.1999, 38, 366) to the first demonstration of redox-switching of NLO activity in a molecular material.

Syntheses and properties of two-dimensional, dicationic nonlinear optical chromophores based on pyrazinyl cores.

Six new dicationic 2D nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores with pyrazinyl-pyridinium electron acceptors have been synthesized by nucleophilic substitutions of 2,6-dichloropyrazine with pyridyl derivatives. These compounds have been characterized as their PF(6)(-) salts by using various techniques including electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Large red shifts in the intense, π → π* intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) transitions on replacing -OMe with -NMe(2) substituents arise from the stronger π-electron donor ability of the latter. Each compound shows a number of redox processes which are largely irreversible. Single crystal X-ray structures have been determined for five salts, including two nitrates, all of which adopt centrosymmetric packing arrangements. Molecular first hyperpolarizabilities ß have been determined by using femtosecond hyper-Rayleigh scattering at 880 and 800 nm, and depolarization studies show that the NLO responses of the symmetric species are strongly 2D, with dominant "off-diagonal" ß(zyy) components. Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopic measurements on the ICT bands afford estimated static first hyperpolarizabilities ß(0). The directly and indirectly derived ß values are large, and the Stark-derived ß(0) response for one of the new salts is several times greater than that determined for (E)-4'-(dimethylamino)-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium hexafluorophosphate. These Stark spectroscopic studies also permit quantitative comparisons with related 2D, binuclear Ru(II) ammine complex salts.

Quadratic and cubic nonlinear optical properties of salts of diquat-based chromophores with diphenylamino substituents.

A series of chromophoric salts has been prepared in which 4-(diphenylamino)phenyl (Dpap) electron donor groups are connected to electron-accepting diquaternized 2,2'-bipyridyl (diquat) units. The main aim is to combine large quadratic and cubic nonlinear optical (NLO) effects in potentially redox-switchable molecules with 2D structures. The chromophores have been characterized as their PF(6)(-) salts by using various techniques including electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The visible absorption spectra are dominated by intense π → π* intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) bands, and all of the compounds show two reversible or quasireversible diquat-based reductions and partially reversible Dpap oxidations. Single crystal X-ray structures have been obtained for one salt and for the precursor compound (E)-4-(diphenylamino)cinnamaldehyde, both of which adopt centrosymmetric space groups. First hyperpolarizabilities ß have been measured by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) with a 800 nm laser, and Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopy of the ICT bands affords estimated static first hyperpolarizabilities ß(0). The directly and indirectly derived ß values are large and generally increased substantially for the bis-Dpap derivatives when compared with their monosubstituted analogues. Polarized HRS studies show that the NLO responses of the disubstituted species are dominated by "off-diagonal" ß(zyy) components. Lengthening the diquaternizing alkyl unit lowers the electron-acceptor strength and therefore increases the ICT energies and decreases the E(1/2) values for diquat reduction. However, compensating increases in the ICT intensity prevent significant decreases in the Stark-based ß(0) responses. Cubic NLO properties have been measured by using the Z-scan technique over a wavelength range of 520-1600 nm, revealing relatively high two-photon absorption cross-sections of up to 730 GM at 620 nm for one of the disubstituted chromophores.

Two-dimensional, pyrazine-based nonlinear optical chromophores with ruthenium(II) ammine electron donors.

Six new nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores with pyrazinyl-pyridinium electron acceptors have been synthesized by complexing a known pro-ligand with electron donating {Ru(II)(NH(3))(5)}(2+) or trans-{Ru(II)(NH(3))(4)(py)}(2+) (py = pyridine) centers. These cationic complexes have been characterized as their PF(6)(-) salts by using various techniques including electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The visible d → π* metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) absorptions gain intensity on increasing the number of Ru(II) centers from one to two, but remain at constant energy. One or two Ru(III/II) redox processes are observed which are reversible, quasi-reversible, or irreversible, while all of the ligand-based reductions are irreversible. Molecular first hyperpolarizabilities ß have been determined by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) at 1064 nm, and depolarization studies show that the NLO responses of the symmetric species are strongly two-dimensional (2D) in character, with dominant "off-diagonal" ß(zyy) components. Stark (electroabsorption) spectroscopic measurements on the MLCT bands also allow the indirect determination of estimated static first hyperpolarizabilities ß(0). Both the HRS and the Stark-derived ß(0) values increase on moving from mono- to bimetallic complexes, and substantial enhancements in NLO response are achieved when compared with one-dimensional (1D) and 2D monometallic Ru(II) ammine complexes reported previously.