Synthesis of Chromophores with Extremely High Electro-optic Activity. 1. Thiophene-Bridge-Based Chromophores

We have successfully synthesized several new substituted thiophene-based electro-optic chromophores. All of these chromophores have structures similar to FTC but they incorporated our newly designed tricyanovinyldihydrofuran acceptors. Since these acceptors possess an anisotropic structure, all of the chromophores are very soluble in a wide range of organic solvents. Thermal study of these chromophores by TGA shows all of them are very stable in air. UV spectra indicate the chromophores have a large solvatochromic effect, implying very large molecular nonlinearities.