PHTHALOCYANINES AND RELATED-COMPOUNDS - ORGANIC TARGETS FOR NONLINEAR-OPTICAL APPLICATIONS

Phthalocyanines (Pcs) and related compounds with their extended two-di mensional pi-electronic delocalization are important targets to study nonlinear optical responses. The tailorability of these macrocycles al lows the fine-tuning of the chemical structure and nonlinear optical r esponse. In this article, the design and main properties of phthalocya nines for second- and third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) and optical limiting applications are discussed, both at the microscopic and macro scopic level. The points of view of synthetic organic chemists and phy sicists are accorded, the main aim of the review being to highlight th e key problems of the held and place them within the general context o f NLO materials.