The first 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotide–amino acid complex: l‐His–cIMP

In the crystal structure of the l ‐His–cIMP complex, i.e.l ‐histidinium inosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate [systematic name: 5‐(2‐amino‐2‐carboxyethyl)‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium 7‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐6‐(6‐oxo‐6,9‐dihydro‐1H‐purin‐9‐yl)‐4a,6,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐4H‐1,3,5,2λ⁵‐furo[3,2‐d][1,3,2λ⁵]dioxaphosphinin‐2‐olate], C₆H₁₀N₃O₂⁺·C₁₀H₁₀N₄O₇P⁻, the Hoogsteen edge of the hypoxanthine (Hyp) base of cIMP and the Hyp face are engaged in specific amino acid–nucleotide (His...cIMP) recognition, i.e. by abutting edge‐to‐edge and by π–π stacking, respectively. The Watson–Crick edge of Hyp and the cIMP phosphate group play a role in nonspecific His...cIMP contacts. The interactions between the cIMP anions (anti/C3′–endo/trans–gauche/chair conformers) are realized mainly between riboses and phosphate groups. The results for this l ‐His–cIMP complex, compared with those for the previously reported solvated l ‐His–IMP crystal structure, indicate a different nature of amino acid–nucleotide recognition and interactions upon the 3′:5′‐cyclization of the nucleotide phosphate group.     

Nucleotide–amino acid interactions in the l‐His–IMP·MeOH·H2O complex

In the crystal structure of the methanol‐solvated monohydrated complex of l ‐histidine (His) with inosine 5′‐monophosphate (IMP), namely l ‐histidinium inosine‐5′‐phosphate methanol solvate monohydrate, C₆H₁₀N₃O₂⁺·C₁₀H₁₂N₄O₈P⁻·CH₃OH·H₂O, most of the interactions between IMP anions (anti/C3′‐endo/gauche–gauche conformers) are realized between the riboses and hypoxanthine bases in a trans sugar‐edge/sugar‐edge geometry, and between the phosphate groups. The base Watson–Crick edge is involved in additional methanol‐mediated IMP...MeOH...IMP contacts. Specific and nonspecific nucleotide–amino acid (IMP...His) interactions engage the Hoogsteen edges of the base and phosphate group, respectively. Additional stabilization of His...IMP contacts is provided by π–π stacking between the imidazolium ring of His and the hypoxanthine base of IMP. The results may indicate the possible recognition mechanism between His and IMP.     

Enhanced third‐order nonlinear optical properties determined in thin films using the Z‐scan technique: bis(μ‐4,4′‐oxydibenzoato)bis[(4′‐phenyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine)cobalt(II)]

π‐Conjugated organic materials exhibit high and tunable nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, and fast response times. 4′‐Phenyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine (PTP) is an important N‐heterocyclic ligand involving π‐conjugated systems, however, studies concerning the third‐order NLO properties of terpyridine transition metal complexes are limited. The title binuclear terpyridine Co^II complex, bis(μ‐4,4′‐oxydibenzoato)‐κ³O,O′:O′′;κ³O′′:O,O′‐bis[(4′‐phenyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐κ³N,N′,N′′)cobalt(II)], [Co₂(C₁₄H₈O₅)₂(C₂₁H₁₅N₃)₂], (1), has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. In the crystal structure, each Co^II cation is surrounded by three N atoms of a PTP ligand and three O atoms, two from a bidentate and one from a symmetry‐related monodentate 4,4′‐oxydibenzoate (ODA²⁻) ligand, completing a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. Neighbouring [Co(PTP)]²⁺ units are bridged by ODA²⁻ ligands to form a ring‐like structure. The third‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of (1) and PTP were determined in thin films using the Z‐scan technique. The title compound shows a strong third‐order NLO saturable absorption (SA), while PTP exhibits a third‐order NLO reverse saturable absorption (RSA). The absorptive coefficient β of (1) is −37.3 × 10⁻⁷ m W⁻¹, which is larger than that (8.96 × 10⁻⁷ m W⁻¹) of PTP. The third‐order NLO susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ values are calculated as 6.01 × 10⁻⁸ e.s.u. for (1) and 1.44 × 10⁻⁸ e.s.u. for PTP.     

Tunable Nonlinear Optical Property and Photocatalytic Activity on Luminescent Chiral Lanthanide Chains

Five chiral (P2₁) isostructural lanthanide coordination complexes Ln(pic)₃ [pic=picolinic acid, Ln=La ( 1 ), Gd ( 2 ), Nd ( 3 ), Sm ( 4 ) and Eu ( 5 )] have been hydrothermally generated, featuring one dimensional right‐handed 2₁ helical chains constructed from LnN₃O₆ of square antiprism geometry and N,O‐chelated pic^? groups, in which 3 , 4 and 5 have been reported, but we explore undiscovered properties of their own systematically. In special, 1 undergoes an abnormal transformation of symmetry as the temperature cooling to 100 K. TG‐DSC studies demonstrated that all isologues have good thermal stability with the decomposition temperature up to 400°C. Then, UV‐Vis‐NIR transmission spectroscopy measurements indicated that they possess a short‐wavelength absorption edge onset at 377 nm, corresponding to the optical band gap of 3.29 eV. Meanwhile, powder second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements revealed that the SHG intensity of 1 , 2 , 4 and 5 may be about 1.2, 2.0, 0.9 and 0.75 times that of KH₂PO₄, respectively. Interestingly, 1 and 3 exhibit efficient photocatalytic degradation for MB (Methylene Blue) upon UV‐light irradiation. Moreover, both 1 and 2 show strong blue luminescence.     

Deep‐Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optics in a Borate Framework with 21‐Ring Channels

A new borate LiBa₃(OH)[B₉O₁₆][B(OH)₄], which combines the uniform porosity of open‐frameworks with the extraordinary NLO properties of borates, has been obtained under hydrothermal conditions by using mixed lithium and barium ions as templates. The framework displays an acs‐type net with large 21‐ring channels. The second harmonic generation (SHG) measurement shows that it is a type I phase‐matchable material with a strong SHG signal intensity about 3.1 times that of KDP (KH₂PO₄). UV/Vis–NIR diffuse reflectance analysis indicates that the compound has a wide transparency range with the short‐wavelength absorption edge below 200 nm. These characteristics reveal that the compound is a promising deep‐UV nonlinear optical material.     

Purine 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotides with the nucleobase in a syn orientation: cAMP,cGMP and cIMP

Purine 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotides are very well known for their role as the secondary messengers in hormone action and cellular signal transduction. Nonetheless, their solid‐state conformational details still require investigation. Five crystals containing purine 3′:5′‐cyclic nucleotides have been obtained and structurally characterized, namely adenosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate dihydrate, C₁₀H₁₂N₅O₆P·2H₂O or cAMP·2H₂O, (I), adenosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate 0.3‐hydrate, C₁₀H₁₂N₅O₆P·0.3H₂O or cAMP·0.3H₂O, (II), guanosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate pentahydrate, C₁₀H₁₂N₅O₇P·5H₂O or cGMP·5H₂O, (III), sodium guanosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate tetrahydrate, Na⁺·C₁₀H₁₁N₅O₇P⁻·4H₂O or Na(cGMP)·4H₂O, (IV), and sodium inosine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate tetrahydrate, Na⁺·C₁₀H₁₀N₄O₇P⁻·4H₂O or Na(cIMP)·4H₂O, (V). Most of the cyclic nucleotide zwitterions/anions [two from four cAMP present in total in (I) and (II), cGMP in (III), cGMP⁻ in (IV) and cIMP⁻ in (V)] are syn conformers about the N‐glycosidic bond, and this nucleobase arrangement is accompanied by C_rib—H…N_pur hydrogen bonds (rib = ribose and pur = purine). The base orientation is tuned by the ribose pucker. An analysis of data obtained from the Cambridge Structural Database made in the context of syn–anti conformational preferences has revealed that among the syn conformers of various purine nucleotides, cyclic nucleotides and dinucleotides predominate significantly. The interactions stabilizing the syn conformation have been indicated. The inter‐nucleotide contacts in (I)–(V) have been systematized in terms of the chemical groups involved. All five structures display three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks.     

SrB5O7F3 Functionalized with [B5O9F3]6− Chromophores: Accelerating the Rational Design of Deep‐Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Materials

Fluorooxoborates, benefiting from the large optical band gap, high anisotropy, and ever‐greater possibility to form non‐centrosymmetric structures activated by the large polarization of [BO_xF_4?x]^(x+1)? building blocks, have been considered as the new fertile fields for searching the ultraviolet (UV) and deep‐UV nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. Herein, we report the first asymmetric alkaline‐earth metal fluorooxoborate SrB₅O₇F₃, which is rationally designed by taking the classic Sr₂Be₂B₂O₇ (SBBO) as a maternal structure. Its [B₅O₉F₃]^6? fundamental building block with near‐planar configuration composed by two edge‐sharing [B₃O₆F₂]^5? rings in SrB₅O₇F₃ has not been reported in any other borates. Solid state ¹⁹F and ¹¹B magic‐angle spinning NMR spectroscopy verifies the presence of covalent B?F bonds in SrB₅O₇F₃. Property characterizations reveal that SrB₅O₇F₃ possesses the optical properties required for deep‐UV NLO applications, which make SrB₅O₇F₃ a promising crystal that could produce deep‐UV coherent light by the direct SHG process.     

Cadmium O‐alkylxanthates as CVD precursors of CdS: a chemical characterization

Cadmium bis(O‐alkylxanthates) are potential single‐source molecular precursors for the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Cd(II) sulfide thin films. In this work, a multi‐technique characterization of Cd(O‐RXan)₂ compounds [where O‐RXan is CH₃CH₂OCS₂ (O‐EtXan) or (CH₃)₂CHOCS₂ (O‐ⁱPrXan)] is performed by means of several analytical methods (extended x‐ray absorption fine structure, Raman, Fourier transform infrared and optical absorption, spectroscopics ¹H and ¹³C NMR, thermal analysis and mass spectrometry) for a thorough investigation of their structure and chemical–physical properties. The most important results concerning the chemical behavior under different experimental conditions, with particular attention to relevant properties for CVD applications, are presented and discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Benzyltriphenylphosphonium gluta­conaldehyde

The title compound, C₂₅H₂₂P⁺·C₅H₅O₂^?, crystallizes in space group P2₁/c. The phospho­nium cations form zigzag chains with P?P distances of 6.475 (1) and 8.287 (2) Å, and are related by inversion centres. Two types of attractive edge‐to‐face phenyl interactions exist, resulting in a dominant supramolecular motif. The glutaconaldehyde anions occupy the interchain spacing and hold adjacent chains together via multiple C—­H?O hydrogen bonds. The bond‐length alternation, a parameter which reveals the non‐linear optical efficiency at the molecular level, is optimized in the chromophore anion.     

Cation Effect on Formation of Preyssler‐type 30‐Tungsto‐5‐phosphate: Enhanced Yield of Na‐encapsulated Derivative and Direct Synthesis of Ca‐ and Bi‐Encapsulated Derivatives

The effect of cations in a reaction mixture for the preparation of the Preyssler‐Jeannin‐Pope type 30‐tungsto‐5‐phosphate [P₅W₃₀O₁₁₀Na]^14– is investigated. Reaction of phosphate and tungstate with a P/W ratio of ca. 3.9 in an acidic aqueous solution without cations selectively leads to the Dawson‐type 18‐tungsto‐2‐phosphate, [P₂W₁₈O₆₂]^6–. Amongst all the alkali cations, only Na⁺ allows formation of the Preyssler‐type polyanion [P₅W₃₀O₁₁₀Na]^14–, with an encapsulated Na⁺ ion, and the product yield can be improved by increasing Na⁺ amount. The presence of Li⁺ ions instead results in the Dawson‐type polyanion [P₂W₁₈O₆₂]^6–, whereas K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺ selectively result in the Keggin‐type polyanion [PW₁₂O₄₀]^3–. An improved synthetic procedure for the Na⁺‐encapsulated Preyssler‐ion leading to a higher isolated yield is presented. Furthermore, addition of Ca²⁺ and Bi³⁺ compounds allows formation of the Ca²⁺‐ and Bi³⁺‐encapsulated Preyssler‐type polyanions, [P₅W₃₀O₁₁₀Ca]^13– and [P₅W₃₀O₁₁₀Bi]^12–, respectively. Furthermore, single‐crystal XRD structure of the Bi³⁺‐encapsulated Preyssler‐type polyanions, [P₅W₃₀O₁₁₀Bi]^12–, is presented for the first time.     

3′:5′‐Cyclic nucleotides: two sodium salts of cdTMP

3′:5′‐Cyclic nucleotides play an outstanding role in signal transduction at the cellular level but, in spite of comprehensive knowledge of the biological role of cyclic nucleotides, their structures are not established fully. Two hydrated sodium salts of thymidine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate (cdTMP, C₁₀H₁₂N₂O₇P), namely sodium thymidine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate heptahydrate, Na⁺·C₁₀H₁₂N₂O₇P⁻·7H₂O or Na(cdTMP)·7H₂O, (I), and sodium thymidine 3′:5′‐cyclic phosphate 3.7‐hydrate, Na⁺·C₁₀H₁₂N₂O₇P⁻·3.7H₂O or Na(cdTMP)·3.7H₂O, (II), have been obtained in crystalline form and structurally characterized, revealing one nucleotide in the asymmetric unit of (I) and eight different nucleotides in (II). All the cyclic nucleotide anions adopt a similar conformation with regard to nucleobase orientation, sugar conformation and 1,3,2‐dioxaphosphorinane ring puckering. In (I), no direct inter‐nucleotide hydrogen bonds are present, and adjacent nucleotide anions interact via water‐mediated and Na⁺‐mediated contacts. In contrast, in (II), direct thymine–phosphate N—H...O inter‐nucleotide hydrogen bonds occur and these are assisted by numerous inter‐nucleotide C—H...O contacts, giving rise to the self‐assembly of cdTMP⁻ anions into three different ribbons. Two of these three ribbons run in the same direction, while the third is antiparallel.     

Synthesis,structure and photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes of a copper(II) metal–organic framework (Cu–MOF) with a 4‐coordinated three‐dimensional CdSO4 topology

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much interest in the fields of gas separation and storage, catalysis synthesis, nonlinear optics, sensors, luminescence, magnetism, photocatalysis gradation and crystal engineering because of their diverse properties and intriguing topologies. A Cu–MOF, namely poly[[(μ₂‐succinato‐κ²O:O′){μ₂‐tris[4‐(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)phenyl]amine‐κ²N:N′}copper(II)] dihydrate], {[Cu(C₄H₄O₄)(C₂₄H₁₈N₁₀)]·2H₂O}_n or {[Cu(suc)(ttpa)]·2H₂O}_n, (I), was synthesized by the hydrothermal method using tris[4‐(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)phenyl]amine (ttpa) and succinate (suc^2?), and characterized by IR, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), luminescence, optical band gap and valence band X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (VB XPS). Cu–MOF (I) shows a twofold interpenetrating 4‐coordinated three‐dimensional CdSO₄ topology with point symbol {6⁵·8}. It presents good photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB) under visible‐light irradiation. A photocatalytic mechanism was proposed and confirmed.     

Waterproof Alkyl Phosphate Coated Fluoride Phosphors for Optoelectronic Materials

A facile approach for coating red fluoride phosphors with a moisture‐resistant alkyl phosphate layer with a thickness of 50–100 nm is reported. K₂SiF₆:Mn⁴⁺ particles were prepared by co‐precipitation and then coated by esterification of P₂O₅ with alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol). This route was adopted to encapsulate the prepared phosphors using transition‐metal ions as cross‐linkers between the alkyl phosphate moieties. The coated phosphor particles exhibited a high water tolerance and retained approximately 87 % of their initial external quantum efficiency after aging under high‐humidity (85 %) and high‐temperature (85 °C) conditions for one month. Warm white‐light‐emitting diodes that consisted of blue InGaN chips, the prepared K₂SiF₆:Mn⁴⁺ phosphors, and either yellow Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ phosphors or green β‐SiAlON: Eu²⁺ phosphors showed excellent color rendition.     

Synthesis and characterization of zinc bis(O‐isopropylxanthate) as a single‐source chemical vapor deposition precursor for ZnS

The utilization of single‐source molecular precursors in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) experiments requires a deep knowledge of their chemico‐physical properties, with particular regard to thermal stability and fragmentation pattern. This study describes the synthesis and characterization of zinc bis(O‐isopropylxanthate), Zn(O‐ⁱPrXan)₂, [O‐ⁱPrXan = (CH₃)₂CHOCS₂], a single‐source precursor for the CVD of zinc(II) sulfide thin films and nanorods. Several analytical methods yielding complementary information (extended X‐ray absorption fine structure, Raman, FT‐IR, UV–Vis optical absorption, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry as well as mass spectrometry techniques, i.e. electrospray and electron ionization, mass‐analyzed ion kinetic energy) are adopted for a comprehensive investigation of purity, structure, thermal behavior and decomposition pathways of the molecule. The most significant results are discussed critically and the properties useful for CVD applications are highlighted. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The complex phosphate K0.92In0.46Nb0.54OPO4: a new representative of the KTiOPO4 family

Aliovalent K_0.92In_0.46Nb_0.54OPO₄ (KINP, potassium indium niobium oxide phosphate) features a chain structure involving corner‐sharing [MO₆] octahedra (M = In/Nb), which allows this compound to be recognized as a member of the KTiOPO₄ (KTP) family. However, its crystallization in the polar space group P4₁ belonging to the 4/m Laue group generates its own subclass of KTP‐related compounds. The unit cell contains 18 symmetry‐independent atoms occupying general positions. The cis–cis principle of octahedral arrangement is observed for each of the separate [MO₆]_∞ chains. The observed variations in the cis–cis linkage are critically important for nonlinear optical properties and distinguish the present compound from other KTP‐related structures. The anionic framework adopts one‐dimensional tunnels running orthogonal to the ab plane. The K⁺ ions are arranged in the [001] direction at a distance of c. Merohedral twinning was detected during the structure refinement.     

Study of Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Four Derivatives of Substituted Aryl Hydrazones of 1,8‐Naphthalimide

Four 1,8‐naphthalimide hydrazone molecules with different electron‐donating groups have been applied in the study of linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. These compounds showed strong green emission in solution. Their NLO properties such as two‐photon absorption (TPA) behavior with femtosecond laser pulses ca. 800 nm and excited‐state absorption (ESA) behavior with nanosecond laser pulses at 532 nm were investigated. Compound 4 presented the largest two‐photon cross section (550 GM) among them due to two factors: the conjugated length of compound 4 is the longest and the electron‐donating ability of compound 4 is the strongest. Different from TPA behavior, compound 2 showed the best nonlinear absorption properties at 532 nm and its nonlinear absorption coefficient and third‐order nonlinear optical susceptibilities χ ⁽³⁾ were up to 1.41×10^?10 MKS and 4.65×10^?12 esu, respectively. Through the modification of the structure, the nonlinear optical properties of these compounds at different wavelengths (532 and 800 nm) were well tuned. The great broad‐band nonlinear optical properties indicate hydrazones are good candidates for organic nonlinear optical absorption materials.     

Conductive and optical properties of PPV modified by N+ ion implantation

In this article, a soluble poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(3′‐methyl)butoxy]‐p‐phenylene vinylene (MMB‐PPV) was synthesized by dehydrochlorination reaction and the MMB‐PPV film was implanted by nitrogen ions (N⁺) with the ion dose and energy in the range of 3.8 × 10¹⁵ to 9.6 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm² and 15–35 keV, respectively. The surface conductivity, optical absorption, optical band gap (E_g) of modified MMB‐PPV film were studied, and the third‐order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ⁽³⁾) as well as its environmental stability of modified MMB‐PPV film were also measured by degenerate four‐wave mixing system. The results showed that the surface conductivity of MMB‐PPV film was up to 3.2 × 10^?2 S when ion implantation was performed with the energy of 35 keV at an ion dose of 9.6 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm², which was seven order of magnitude higher than that of the pristine film. UV‐Vis absorption spectra demonstrated that the optical absorption of MMB‐PPV film was enhanced gradually in the visible region followed by a red shift of optical absorption threshold and the E_g value was reduced from 2.12 eV to 1.59 eV with the increase of ion dose and energy. The maximum χ⁽³⁾ value of 2.45 × 10^?8 esu for modified MMB‐PPV film was obtained with the ion energy of 20 keV at an ion dose of 3.8 × 10¹⁶ ions/cm², which was almost 33 times larger than that for pristine film. In comparison to the reduction of 17% in the χ⁽³⁾ value of pristine MMB‐PPV film, the maximum χ⁽³⁾ value of 2.45 × 10^?8 esu for modified MMB‐PPV film decreased by over 5.3% when they had been exposed under the same ambient conditions for 90 days. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 2072–2077, 2010     

Hydrogen‐bonded network in the trichloroacetate salts of 2‐amino‐5‐chloropyridinium and 2‐methyl‐5‐nitroanilinium monohydrate

In the crystal structures of 2‐amino‐5‐chloropyridinium trichloroacetate, C₅H₆ClN₂⁺·C₂Cl₃O₂⁻, (I), and 2‐methyl‐5‐nitroanilinium trichloroacetate monohydrate, C₇H₉N₂O₂⁺·C₂Cl₃O₂⁻·H₂O, (II), the protonated planar 2‐amino‐5‐chloropyridinium [in (I)] and 2‐methyl‐5‐nitroanilinium [in (II)] cations interact with the oppositely charged trichloroacetate anions to form hydrogen‐bonded one‐dimensional chains in (I) and, together with water molecules, a three‐dimensional network in (II). The crystals of (I) exhibit nonlinear optical properties. The second harmonic generation efficiency in relation to potassium dihydrogen phosphate is 0.77. This work demonstrates the usefulness of trichloroacetic acid in crystal engineering for obtaining new materials for nonlinear optics.     

Direct Synthesis of a Covalent Triazine‐Based Framework from Aromatic Amides

There have been extensive efforts to synthesize crystalline covalent triazine‐based frameworks (CTFs) for practical applications and to realize their potential. The phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅)‐catalyzed direct condensation of aromatic amide instead of aromatic nitrile to form triazine rings. P₂O₅‐catalyzed condensation was applied on terephthalamide to construct a covalent triazine‐based framework (pCTF‐1). This approach yielded highly crystalline pCTF‐1 with high specific surface area (2034.1 m² g^?1). At low pressure, the pCTF‐1 showed high CO₂ (21.9 wt % at 273 K) and H₂ (1.75 wt % at 77 K) uptake capacities. The direct formation of a triazine‐based COF was also confirmed by model reactions, with the P₂O₅‐catalyzed condensation reaction of both benzamide and benzonitrile to form 1,3,5‐triphenyl‐2,4,6‐triazine in high yield.     

The [4 + 4] thermocyclization of 9‐anthraldehyde: synthesis,crystal structure,experimental and theoretical UV spectra,natural bonding orbital analysis and prediction of third‐order nonlinear optical properties

The dimer of 9‐anthraldehyde, namely heptacyclo[8.6.6.6^2,9.0^3,8.0^11,16.0^17,22.0^23,28]octacosa‐3,5,7,11,13,15,17(22),18,20,23(28),24,26‐dodecaene‐1,9‐carbaldehyde, C₃₀H₂₀O₂, has been synthesized by refluxing an ethanol solution in the presence of M(ClO₄)₂ and 1,3‐diaminopropan‐2‐ol (M = Co²⁺ or Cu²⁺). Its structure has been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, showing it to be a new polymorph, referred to as polymorph II, in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n. It is compared with the previously reported triclinic modification [Ehrenberg (1968). Acta Cryst. B 24 , 1123–1125], which is referred to as polymorph I. The asymmetric unit of polymorph II contains two half molecules located on crystallographic centres, while the asymmetric unit of polymorph I includes one half molecule, also located on a crystallographic centre. Time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) at the RB3LYP level using the 6‐31G(d,p) basis set was applied. The predicted electronic absorption spectrum is in good agreement with the experimental one. The analysis of the calculated electronic absorption spectrum of polymorph II was carried out in order to assign the observed electronic transitions and to determine their character. A natural bonding orbital (NBO) analysis was executed at the same level to evaluate charge‐transfer, intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions and hyperconjugative interactions. The third‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the compound were appraised by the ZINDO/sum‐over‐states method in both static and dynamic states. The orientationally averaged (isotropic) value of γ for the compound is greater than the corresponding value of 4‐nitroaniline (pNA).