Ferrocenyl derivatives with Mo(Tp(An)) units for second- and third-order nonlinear optical applications

New molecular systems based on donor/acceptor organometallic groups connect ed by pi -conjugated bridges have been designed and their nonlinear optical (NLO) properties investigated. At macroscopic level SHG and THG responses were measured on corona-poled spin-coated films and at molecular level cubi c hyperpolarizability data were obtained from solution. For comparison rela ted compounds having NO, as acceptor group were also analyzed. New trends h ave been derived from the analysis of the molecular characteristics: nature of the acceptor and structural variations on the bridge. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.