Syntheses, characterization and second-order nonlinear optical behavior of new ferrocenyl-terminated phenylethenyl oligomers with a pendant nitro group

Several ferrocenyl-based oligomers with a pendant nitro group have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of the compound (E)-(η5-C5H5)Fe(η5-C5H4)–CHCHC6H4NO2 is described, showing a centrosymmetric arrangement as already proposed by several authors. The nonlinear optical properties of the compounds have been measured by means of the HRS technique, showing the highest β values for any organometallic compound with a pendant nitro group reported to date.