Molecular Engineering of Push-Pull Phenylpolyenes for Nonlinear Optics: Improved Solubility, Stability, and Nonlinearities

“Push–pull” nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores—which consist of an electron-donating group and an electron-withdrawing group connected by a π-conjugated system—with optimized hyperpolarizability tend to lead to materials with reduced stability, solubility, or transparency. It is demonstrated that molecular engineering can produce NLO chromophores, such as that in the Figure, with satisfactory stability, solubility, and transparency characteristics.