Side chain organometallic polymers containing cyclopalladated potentially second order nonlinear optical active fragments as pendants

Three new organometallic homopolymers and a copolymer have been obtained by radical polymerization of acrylic monomers. The monomers were obtained by bridge splitting reaction from cyclopalladated dinuclear species and the ap propriate imines. The polymers exhibit good thermal acid chemical stability and are soluble in common organic solvents. Their potential ability to dis play second order nonlinear optical activity was tested by solvatochromic e ffect measurements on the corresponding monomers. In particular, the copoly mer appears to be the most versatile in consideration of its thermal behavi our, solubility and inherent viscosity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.