Boomerang-shaped octupolar molecules derived from triphenylbenzene

Octupolar molecules are of particular interest in the field of non-linear o ptics due to their potentially large quadratic non-linearities and challeng ing material engineering possibilities. In order to design molecules combin ing enhanced first hyperpolarizabilities and excellent transparency in the visible region, we have implemented a strategy based on the design of all-o rganic molecules showing multi-dimensional intramolecular charge transfer. In this perspective, we have designed original propeller-shaped conjugated molecules based on a central triphenylbenzene core bearing three phenylene- vinylene blades. By grafting either electron-donating or electron-withdrawi ng terminal moieties and taking advantage of multidirectional charge transf er between the centre and the periphery of these molecules, octupolar compo unds displaying excellent transparency in the visible region and larger non -linearity than DRI were obtained (up to beta (0) = 140 x 10(-30) esu with lambda (max) = 385 nm). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.