Synthesis of Functionalized Organic Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Chromophores for Electrooptic Applications

The design and syntheses of functionalized second-order nonlinear optical chromophores, suitable for covalent incorporation into functionalized high-performance polymers, are described. The chromophores with hydroxy alkyl functionality have diarylamino groups as the donor moiety and a styryl thiophene moiety as the conjugated bridge. The triarylamine parts of the molecules were synthesized using palladium-catalyzed C−N bond forming reactions. The conjugated bridge was assembled using the Wittig reaction. The acceptor groups were installed in the last steps of the syntheses.