Synthesis and characterization of sterically stabilized second-order nonlinear optical chromophores

Synthesis and Characterization of Sterically Stabilized Second-Order Nonlin ear Optical Chromophores Bulky substituents added to second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores inhibit in termolecular electrostatic interacti ons that attenuate electric poling induced macroscopic electrooptic activit y. Such chromophore modification also improves chemical and photochemical s tability and the processability of chromophores into hardened, optical-qual ity polymer materials by improving solubility, We present a new route to th e synthesis of electrooptic (second-order NLO) chromophores based on steric ally protected;pi-electron bridge structures, yielding molecules exhibiting both large optical nonlinearity and good thermal stability.