Synthesis, crystal structure and solid state NLO properties of a new chiral bis(salicylaldiminato)nickel(ii) Schiff-base complex in a nearly optimized solid state environment

A new chiral ligand based on the condensation of 4-diethylaminosalicylaldehyde with (1R,2R)-(+)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (H2L2) is reported along with its nickel(II) complex. The diamagnetic NiL2 complex exhibits an efficiency 13 times that of urea in second harmonic generation at 1.9 µm. The structure–property relationships are discussed on the basis of the crystal structure, in relation with that of a previously reported derivative which possesses the same molecular NLO response, but very different crystal structure.