The synthesis of the new highly extended chromophore 2-[4-(N,N-dihydroxyeth
ylaminophenylazo)- phenyl]benzoxazole is described. Two polymers obtained b
y the polycondensation of this chromophore with propyloxyterephthalic acid
and 2,4-tolylenediisocyanate and one obtained by the polycondensation of 2-
[4-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminophenyl]-6-nitro-benzoxazole with 2,4-tolylen
ediisocyanate have been prepared and characterized. The polymers are amorph
ous and exhibit good optical clarity, satisfactory thermal stability above
the glass transition temperature and are soluble in common organic solvents
. Second order nonlinear optical behavior of the polymers has been studied
through measurement of the electrooptic coefficient on films poled between
parallel electrodes. The maximum value measured for the electrooptic coeffi
cient (r(33)) is 6.5 pm/V at an incident laser wavelength of 1.552 mum. (C)
2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.