Multichromophoric calix[4]arenes: effect of interchromophore distances on linear and nonlinear optical properties.

Multichromophoric calix[4]arenes with two or four disperse red one (DR1) moieties linked to the lower rim have been synthesized. The second-order nonlinear optical activity was measured by using the electric-field-induced second-harmonic generation technique and there was a nearly linear increase of the µß value with the number of chromophores in the molecule without affecting the charge-transfer absorption wavelength. The effect that the number of DR1 units plays on the hyperpolarizability, the dipole moment, and the absorption maxima has been also studied by using quantum chemical calculations. It was found that it was necessary to synthesize multichromophores with distant chromophores to obtain large nonlinear optical responses.

Synthesis, characterization, and optical properties of 4H-pyran-4-ylidene donor-based chromophores: the relevance of the location of a thiophene ring in the spacer.

A series of new 4H-pyran-4-ylidene donor-based chromophores with a thiophene ring in the spacer has been synthesized. The linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of these compounds have been determined and compared with the results of computational calculations. The position of the thiophene ring proved essential to optimize the figure of merit µß, with the best results obtained when the heterocyclic system was closer to the donor moiety.

Iminium salts of omega-dithiafulvenylpolyenals: an easy entry to the corresponding aldehydes and doubly proaromatic nonlinear optic-phores.

A short, high-yielding route to omega-dithiafulvenylpolyenals (1) via the corresponding iminium salts (2) and starting from trimethyl-1,3-dithiolium tetrafluoroborate is reported. The Knoevenagel reactions of either 1 or 2 with isoxazolone-containing acceptors afford merocyanines 7 and 9, in a process that is often accompanied by a vinylene-shortening side reaction. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal that compounds 7 and 9, featuring two proaromatic end groups, are strongly polarized and show good second-order nonlinear optical responses.

Synthesis, structure, and optical properties of 1,4-dithiafulvene-based nonlinear optic-phores.

Polyenic nonlinear optic (NLO)-phores with a proaromatic 1,4-dithiafulvene electron donor and the little explored 1,1,3-tricyano-2-phenylpropene acceptor have been synthesized. Their configurational and conformational features, ground state polarization, and linear and nonlinear optical properties have been determined experimentally and theoretically, and the results are compared to those of tetrathiafulvalene-related derivatives. The newly prepared compounds show close to optimal bond length alternation values for maximizing the first molecular hyperpolarizability, and one of them displays the highest mu beta0 value ever reported for a dithiafulvene-based NLO-phore. The first example of a dithiafulvenylmethylene transfer reaction is also reported.

Electroactive C(2) symmetry receptors based on the biphenyl scaffold and tetrathiafulvalene units.

The synthesis of a family of biphenyl-tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives incorporating a binding site has been carried out in good to moderate yields through functionalization of the biphenyl scaffold. X-ray structure of one derivative (compound 3) of the series is provided and shows a dihedral angle of 74 degrees around the central Ar-Ar bond of the biphenyl unit in a cisoid conformation. (1)H NMR and cyclic-voltammetry studies demonstrate the critical importance of the nature of the substitution on the conformational rigidity and on the electrochemical behavior of the resulting biphenyl-TTF assemblies. This feature is underlined by an original electrochemical recognition process upon binding of Pb(2+), correlated to conformational changes occurring upon metal cation complexation.

Bis(calixcrown)tetrathiafulvalene receptors.

A new class of electroactive receptors has been synthesized, built by covalent association of five subunits: two calixarene platforms for spatial organization, two polyether 3D cavities for cation binding, and one electroactive TTF unit to probe the complexation event. Sodium complexation induces rigidification of the molecular assembly, as shown by 1H NMR titration and single-crystal X-ray crystallographic studies on free receptor 14 and a corresponding complex with two bound sodium atoms per receptor (15-(NaPF6)2). The calixarene units in these receptors change from a pinched cone conformation in the free ligand to a symmetrical cone in the complex. Cyclovoltammetric studies validated the electrochemical recognition concept of these five-member assemblies.

Bis-calix[4]arenes bridged by an electroactive tetrathiafulvalene unit.

Syntheses of the first bis-calixarenes systems bridged by a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) framework 5a,b have been carried out in good yields through triethyl phosphite-mediated dechalcogenation-dimerizations of the corresponding 1,3-dithiole-2-(thi)ones 3 or 4. X-ray structures of the calix[4]arene-TTF-calix[4]arene assembly 5b and of the calix[4]arene-thione intermediate 3b are analyzed and confirm the cone conformations adopted by the calix[4]arene parts, as it is also observed by (1)H NMR analysis of these systems. The solid-state organization in 5b leads to alternate layers of calixarene and TTF units. The cyclic voltammograms of 5a,b show as expected a two-step redox behavior but display a CV deformation for the second redox process.

Tetrathiafulvalene in a perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide)-based dyad: a new reversible fluorescence-redox dependent molecular system.

A donor-acceptor dyad system involving tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) as donor attached by a flexible spacer to perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) as acceptor was synthesized and characterized. The strategy used the preliminary synthesis of an unsymmetrical PDI unit bearing an alcohol functionality as anchor group. Single-crystal analysis revealed a highly organized arrangement in which all PDI molecules are packed in a noncentrosymmetrical pattern. It was shown that the fluorescence emission intensity of the TTF-PDI dyad can be reversibly tuned depending on the oxidation states of the TTF unit. This behavior is attributed to peculiar properties of TTF linked to a PDI acceptor, which fluoresces intrinsically. Consequently, this dyad can be considered as a new reversible fluorescence-redox dependent molecular system.

Tuning first molecular hyperpolarizabilities through the use of proaromatic spacers.

In this paper, we describe the second-order nonlinear optical properties of a series of 1,3-dithiole-based electron donor-acceptor systems incorporating proaromatic donor and spacer groups. Modification of the proaromaticity of the quinoid spacer gives rise to NLO-phores with mubeta values ranging from -2000 x 10(-)(48) esu to +3000 x 10(-)(48) esu. Quite surprisingly, compounds with a p-benzoquinoid spacer and a strong acceptor group show negative mubeta values, usually associated to zwitterionic ground states, and yet they are largely quinoid, as evidenced by crystallographic data and theoretical calculations. Progressive benzoannulation of the spacer and introduction of alkylsulfanyl substituents on the dithiole donor unit result in a shift to more positive mubeta values. DFT and ab initio calculations verify these empirical trends.