Synfacts 2008(3): 0254-0254  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1042705
Synthesis of Materials and Unnatural Products
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Switchable Nonlinear Optics

Contributor(s):Timothy M. Swager, Trisha L. Andrew
V. Aubert, V. Guerchais, E. Ishow, K. Hoang-Thi, I. Ledoux, K. Nakatani, H. Le Bozec*
Université de Rennes and Ens Cachan, France
Efficient Photoswitching of the Nonlinear Optical Properties of Dipolar Photochromic Zinc(II) Complexes
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.  2008,  47:  577-580  
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
21 February 2008 (online)


Significance

Compounds 3a and 3b were synthesized in 55-60% yield from compounds 1a or 1b. Both 3a and 3b displayed an approximately 22-fold increase in non-linear optical (NLO) activity when the photochromic dithienylethene (DTE) moieties were closed, compared to the open state.

Comment

The common design principle for non-linear optical chromophores is to include a donor-acceptor interaction within the chromophore. In this work, the donor and acceptor moieties are bridged by a photochrome that can either block or facilitate electronic communication, thus allowing for photochemical control over NLO activity.