2-Pyridones as a New Photochemically Stable Structural Design for the Off-Resonant Optical Kerr Effect

We report on the development of new 2-pyridones as an efficient means to avoid the photochemical instability often encountered in organic third-order nonlinear optical materials. Several push–pull molecules with this particular non-aromatic heterocycle as a spacer between different donor and acceptor groups have been easily synthesized. The good transmitter behavior of the pyridonic ring is demonstrated and picosecond infrared single-shot Z-scan measurements performed in solution show the ability of these molecules to exhibit a stable and off-resonant optical Kerr effect. A polymer based on this structural design has also been developed.