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 (ΔEel ) 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 ΔEel and the chromophores' first hyperpolarizability is revealed.

Redox trends in cyclometalated palladium(ii) complexes.

A series of diverse binuclear and mononuclear cyclometalated palladium(ii) complexes of different structure was investigated by electrochemical techniques combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The studies including cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, X-ray structure analysis and quantum chemical calculations revealed a regularity of the complexes oxidation potential on the metal-metal distance in the complexes: the larger Pd-Pd distance, the higher oxidation potentials. The reduction potentials feature unusually high negative values while no correlation depending on the structure could be observed. These results are in a good agreement with the electron density distribution in the complexes. Additionally, ESR data obtained for the complexes upon oxidation is reported.