Physiochemical properties of organic nonlinear optical crystal from combined experimental and theoretical studies

2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-dimethyl-1H-imidazole (fpmpdi) was synthesised and its structure was characterized by 1H, 13C, mass, elemental analysis and X-ray techniques. It belongs to monoclinic crystal system having the lattice dimensions of monoclinic with point group, P21/c; a=8.5132 (1) ?, b=9.5128 (2) ?, c=19.2610 (3) ?, β=96.798 (2). Since (fpmpdi) is highly sensitive to different external stimulations such as UV irradiation, heat, increasing pressure and changing the environmental pH causing color change and so they can be used as a "multi-way" optically switchable material. A prominent fluorescence enhancement was found in the presence of transition metal ions such as Hg2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+ and this was suggested to result from the suppression of radiationless transitions from the n-π* state in the chemosensors. The optimized geometrical parameters obtained by DFT calculation is in good agreement with single crystal XRD data. The Mulliken, NBO charge analysis and the HOMO-LUMO energies were also calculated. The molecular electrostatic potential surface (MEP) and first static hyperpolarisability have also been employed theoretically which reveal that the fpmpdi have non-linear optical (NLO) behavior with non-zero values. Ground and excited states DFT calculations were carried out in order to find out dipole moment and energy.     

Vibrational spectroscopic,conductivity, and calorimetric studies on tripotassium hydrogen diselenate

Infrared spectra of K₃H(SeO₄)₂ obtained at 300 and 77 K, conform to the pattern expected for a very strong O-H O hydrogen bond. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electrical conductivity measurements indicate the presence of a phase transition at 388 K to a state having high protonic conductivity.A. W. A. is a recipient of a La Trobe University Postgraduate Research Scholarship.     

Structural, spectral, linear and nonlinear optical properties of new nonlinear optical L-histidinium trichloroacetate crystals

Single crystals of a new histidinium salt: L-histidinium trichloroacetate {abbreviated as LHTCA; [(C(3)N(2)H(4))CH(2)CH(NH(3))(CO(2))](+)CCl(3)COO(-)} were grown by slow evaporation of an aqueous solution at room temperature. The compound crystallizes in a non-centrosymmetric space group P2(1) of monoclinic system with cell parameters a=5.4505(18) A, b=25.769(8) A, c=9.210(2) A and beta=99.98(2) degrees. The vibrational structure of the compound confirms the presence of various functional groups in the molecule. The UV-vis-NIR spectrum shows a good transparency in the whole of the region from ultraviolet to near IR. The Kurtz powder SHG measurement confirms the frequency doubling of the crystal. Thermal behaviour of the crystals has been investigated by DSC analysis. These preliminary results suggest that LHTCA crystal can act as a potential and promising candidate for frequency doubling applications even from the near UV region to the near IR.     

Synthesis, structural studies, theoretical calculations, and linear and nonlinear optical properties of terpyridyl lanthanide complexes: new evidence for the contribution of f electrons to the NLO activity

The synthesis and structural, photophysical, and second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a novel lanthanide terpyridyl-like complex family LLn(NO(3))(3) (Ln = La, Gd, Dy, Yb, and Y) are reported. The isostructural character of this series in solution and in the solid state has been established on the basis of X-ray diffraction analysis in the cases of yttrium and gadolinium complexes, theoretical optimization of geometry (DFT), and NMR spectroscopy. The absorption, emission, and solvatochromic properties of the free terpyridyl-like ligand L were thoroughly investigated, and the twist intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) character of the lowest energy transition was confirmed by theoretical calculation (TDDFT and CIS). The similar ionochromic effect of the different lanthanide ions was evidenced by the similar UV-visible spectra of the complete family of complexes. On the other hand, the quadratic hyperpolarizability coefficient beta, measured by the harmonic light scattering (HLS) technique, is clearly dependent on the nature of the metal, and a careful examination of the particular case of yttrium unambiguously confirms the contribution of metal f electrons to the NLO activity.     

Optical and nonlinear optical properties of new Schiff’s bases: experimental versus theoretical study of inclusion interactions

Experimentally and theoretically were studied the physical properties of 19 new Schiff’s bases and their different protonated forms, depending on reaction conditions. It was elucidated the correlation between the type of molecular architecture, substituents and pH of the medium on first hyperpolarizability (β) with regard to the potential application of these compounds as organic nonlinear optical materials. The structure and optical properties were also studied, comparing quantum chemical data and experimental results from the mass spectrometry, electronic absorption, diffuse reflectance, and fluorescence spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy in condense phase, nuclear magnetic resonance, as well as thermal methods.     

Synthesis, growth, structural, spectroscopic and optical studies of a new semiorganic nonlinear optical crystal: L-valine hydrochloride

Single crystals of a new semiorganic nonlinear optical (NLO) material, L-valine hydrochloride (LVHCl), having dimensions up to 20 mm x 6 mm x 4 mm have been grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies confirm that the grown crystal belongs to the monoclinic system. The functional groups presented in the crystal were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) technique. Optical transmission spectrum shows very low absorption in the entire visible region. Differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses confirmed that the crystal is stable up to 211 degrees C. The powder second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of LVHCl is 1.7 times efficient as potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP).     

Novel pb and zn coordination polymers: synthesis,molecular structures,and third-order nonlinear optical properties

Three novel coordination polymers [Pb(bbbm)(2)(NO(3))(2)](n) (bbbm = 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis-1H-benzimidazole) 1, [Zn(bbbt)(NCS)(2)](n) (bbbt = 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis-1H-benzotriazole) 2, and [Zn(pbbt)(NCS)(2)](n) (pbbt = 1,1'-(1,3-propylene)bis-1H-benzotriazole) 3 were synthesized and structurally characterized. Polymer 1 exhibits a two-dimensional rhombohedral grid network structure, the dimensions of the grid are 14.274 x 14.274 A, and the diagonal-to-diagonal distances are 24.809 x 14.125 A. Polymer 2 possesses a concavo-convex chain structure different from those of the known one-dimensional polymers, which are linear chain, zigzag chain, helical chain, double-stranded chain, and ladder chain. Polymer 3 exhibits a one-dimensional zigzag chain structure, and these chains were packed as an.ABAB. layered structure. The third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of polymers1, 2, and 3 were determined with a 7-ns pulsed laser at 532 nm. 1 shows strong third-order NLO absorptive and refractive properties, and its alpha(2) and n(2) values were calculated to be 5.8 x 10(-)(9) m W(-)(1) and 4.67 x 10(-)(18) m(2) W(-)(1) in a 3.4 x 10(-)(4) mol dm(-)(3) DMF solution, respectively. Both 2 and 3 exhibit weaker NLO absorption and strong refractive properties, and their n(2) values are 4.53 x 10(-)(18) m(2) W(-)(1) for 2 in a 5.2 x 10(-)(4) mol dm(-)(3) DMF solution and 3.02 x 10(-)(18) m(2) W(-)(1) for 3 in a 4.35 x 10(-)(4) mol dm(-)(3) DMF solution. The chi((3)) values of 1, 2, and 3 were calculated to be 1.67 x 10(-)(11), 1.62 x 10(-)(11), and 1.08 x 10(-)(11) esu, respectively, and the values are larger than those of the reported coordination polymers. We deduce that the valence shell structures of metal ions may have some influence on the strength of NLO properties, and discuss the relationships between the crystal structures of coordination polymers and the observed NLO properties.     

Electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical, and molecular quadratic and cubic nonlinear optical properties of alkynylruthenium dendrimers

A combination of cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry, hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) [including depolarization studies], Z-scan and degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) [including studies employing an optically transparent thin-layer electrochemical (OTTLE) cell to effect electrochemical switching of nonlinearity], pump-probe, and electroabsorption (EA) measurements have been used to comprehensively investigate the electronic, linear optical, and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of nanoscopic pi-delocalizable electron-rich alkynylruthenium dendrimers, their precursor dendrons, and their linear analogues. CV, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, and UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry reveal that the reversible metal-centered oxidation processes in these complexes are accompanied by strong linear optical changes, "switching on" low-energy absorption bands, the frequency of which is tunable by ligand replacement. HRS studies at 1064 nm employing nanosecond pulses reveal large nonlinearities for these formally octupolar dendrimers; depolarization measurements are consistent with lack of coplanarity upon pi-framework extension through the metal. EA studies at 350-800 nm in a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix are consistent with the important transitions having a charge-transfer exciton character that increases markedly on introduction of peripheral polarizing substituent. Time-resolved pump-probe studies employing 55 ps, 527 nm pulses reveal absorption saturation, the longest excited-state lifetime being observed for the dendrimer. Z-scan studies at 800 nm employing femtosecond pulses reveal strong two-photon absorption that increases significantly on progression from linear complex to zero- and then first-generation dendrimer with no loss of optical transparency. Both refractive and absorptive nonlinearity for selected alkynylruthenium dendrimers have been reversibly "switched" by employing the Z-scan technique at 800 and 1180 nm and 100-150 fs pulses, together with a specially modified OTTLE cell, complementary femtosecond time-resolved DFWM and transient absorption studies at 800 nm suggesting that the NLO effects originate in picosecond time scale processes.     

Vibrational spectra of 1-methylthymine: matrix isolation, solid state and theoretical studies

The infrared spectra of 1-methylthymine (1-MeT) in argon and nitrogen cryogenic matrices are presented, for the first time. The molecular structure, conformations, vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities and Raman scattering activities of 1-MeT have been calculated by the DFT(B3LYP), MP2 and HF methods using the D95V** basis set. The theoretically predicted intensity pattern of the IR and Raman bands has proved to be of great help in assigning the experimental spectra. Rigorous normal coordinate analysis has been performed, at each level of theory. The unequivocal and complete vibrational assignment for 1-MeT has been made on the basis of the calculated potential energy distribution (PED). Comparison of the experimental matrix isolation spectra with the theoretical results has revealed that the B3LYP method is superior to both the MP2 and HF methods in predicting the frequencies of uracil derivatives. The MP2 method consistently underestimates the frequencies of the out-of-plane gamma(C=O) and gamma(C-H) bending modes, while the HF method yields the reverse order of the frequencies of two nu(C=O) stretching vibrations. Investigation of the frequency shift of several bands, on passing from matrix isolation to solid state spectra, has provided information on the strength of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the crystal of 1-MeT. Several ambiguities in the earlier assignments of the vibrational spectra of polycrystalline 1-MeT have been clarified.     

Vibrational and theoretical studies of urea and magnesium-urea complexes

The molecular structure and IR spectra of urea, H₂NCONH₂, in gas phase and in acetonitrile solution, as well as of the two complexes [MgU₄Cl₂] and [MgU₆]Cl₂ have been observed. The influence of environmental changes to geometry and spectra are shown. Various basis sets have been employed to safeguard the validity of the reported findings, using polarization functions for all calculations to get the correct pyramidal amide configuration. The erroneous low energy of the C_2v symmetry group, after the addition of the ZPVE correction, is discussed. For the solvated urea molecule a reduction of the energy barrier, compared to the gas phase urea, between the two minimum configurations, C₂ and C_s, and the planar geometry, is observed. The lowest energy minimum in acetonitrile is found to be the C₂ symmetry group, while for the two complexes, the local symmetry of urea is C_s or C₂ depending on the complex, or even on the coordination position of urea in the complex. The wagging motion of the amide group is also discussed in all the studied urea species. The computed geometries and most of the spectroscopic results are in good agreement with the available experimental data. Received: 18 July 2000 / Accepted: 31 July 2000 / Published online: 2 November 2000     

Unexpected ferromagnetic interaction in a new tetranuclear copper(II) complex: synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic properties, and theoretical studies

The new tetranuclear carbonate complex [Cu2L)2(CO3)] x 8H2O (1 x 8H2O) (H3L = (2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine) has been obtained by two different synthetic routes and fully characterized. Recrystallization of 1 x 8H2O in methanol yields single crystals of {[(Cu2L)2(CO3)]}2 x 12H2O (1 x 6H2O), suitable for X-ray diffraction studies. The crystal structure of 1 x 6H2O shows two crystallographically different tetranuclear molecules in the asymmetric unit, 1a and 1b. Both molecules can be understood as self-assembled from two dinuclear [Cu2L]+ cations, joined by a mu4-eta(2):eta(1):eta(1) carbonate ligand. The copper atoms of each crystallographically different [(Cu2L)2(CO3)] molecule present miscellaneous coordination polyhedra: in both 1a and 1b, two metal centers are in square pyramidal environments, one displays a square planar chromophore and the other one has a geometry that can be considered as an intermediate between square pyramid and trigonal bipyramid. Magnetic studies reveal net intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling between the metal atoms. Density functional calculations allow the assignment of the different magnetic coupling constants and explain the unexpected ferromagnetic behavior, because of the presence of an unusual NCN bridging moiety and countercomplementarity of the phenoxo (or carbonate) and NCN bridges.     

Dinaphthoporphycenes: synthesis and nonlinear optical studies

Naphthobipyrrole-derived porphycenes are synthesized for the first time via McMurry coupling of the β-alkylated 2,9-diformylnaphthobipyrrole derivatives, which in turn were prepared easily from 2,3-naphthalene bishydrazine in four steps. Insertion of nickel into the porphycene core results in transformation of the rectangular N4-core into a square type geometry owing to the fusion of naphthalene moiety onto the bipyrrole entities. These porphycenes show large, intensity dependent three-photon absorption.     

Design, synthesis, and characterization of the electrochemical, nonlinear optical properties, and theoretical studies of novel thienylpyrrole azo dyes bearing benzothiazole acceptor groups

Two series of related donor-acceptor conjugated heterocyclic azo dyes based on the thienylpyrrole system, functionalized with benzothiazol-2-yl (5-6) or benzothiazol-6-yl acceptor groups (7) through an NN bridge, have been synthesized by azo coupling using 1-alkyl(aryl)thienylpyrroles (1) and benzothiazolyl diazonium salts (2-4) as coupling components. Their optical (linear and first hyperpolarizability), electrochemical, and thermal properties have been examined. Optimized ground-state molecular geometries and estimates of the lowest energy single electron vertical excitation energies in dioxane solutions were obtained using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level. Hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) in dioxane solutions using a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nm was employed to evaluate their second-order nonlinear optical properties. Of these systems, the benzothiazol-2-yl-diazenes 5-6 exhibit the largest first hyperpolarizabilities (β=460-660×10⁻³⁰ esu, T convention) compared to benzothiazol-6-yl-diazenes 7 (β=360-485×10⁻³⁰ esu, T convention). Good to excellent thermal stabilities were also obtained for all azo dyes (235-317 °C). This multidisciplinary study showed that modulation of the optical and electronic properties can be achieved by introduction of the benzothiazole acceptor group in the thienylpyrrole system through position 2 or 6 of the benzothiazole heterocycle.     

Vibrational spectra of 1-methyluracilate complex with silver(I) and theoretical studies of the 1-MeU anion

The FT-Raman and FT-infrared spectra of (1-methyluracilato)silver, [Ag(C(5)H(5)N(2)O(2))] in the solid state have been studied. The complex is a polymer in which one silver ion is linearly bonded to two 1-MeU ligands through the deprotonated N(3) sites and another silver ion is tetrahedrally coordinated to the four 1-MeU ligands through the O2 and O4 carbonyl oxygen atoms. The harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities and Raman scattering activities of the N(3)-deprotonated 1-methyluracilate anion have been calculated using density functional (B3LYP) and ab initio (HF and MP2) methods with the 6-31G(d,p) and 6-31++G(df,pd) basis sets. The calculated potential energy distribution (PED) for the 1-MeU anion has proved to be of great help in assigning the spectra of the title complex. It can be concluded that the two strong Raman bands at 1263 and 796 cm(-1) are diagnostic for the N3-deprotonation of the 1-methyluracilate ring and complexation with silver ion. The linear N-Ag-N stretching vibrations are assigned to the bands at 448 and 362 cm(-1) (IR) and 453, 362 cm(-1) (Raman). The Ag-O stretching vibrations are assigned to the bands in the range of 280-250 cm(-1).     

Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of new symmetrically substituted stilbenes

Three new chromophores and trans-4-(N-(ethyl 4″-nitrobenzoate)-N-ethyl amino)-4′-(dimethyl amino) stilbene (DMANHAS) have been synthesized and whose chemical structures have been characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, and elemental analyses. Linear absorption, single-photon-induced fluorescence and two-photon-induced fluorescence are experimentally studied. Trans-4-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-ethyl amino)-4′-(dimethyl amino)stilbene (DMAHAS) and trans-4-(N-2-hydroxyethyl-N-ethyl amino)-4′-(diethyl amino)stilbene (DEAHAS) have effective two-photon absorption cross-sections of σ₂=0.91×10⁻⁴⁶ cm⁴ s/photon and σ₂=1.19×10⁻⁴⁶ cm⁴ s/photon at 532 nm by using an open aperture Z-scan technique, respectively. When pumped with 800 nm laser irradiation, DMAHAS and DEAHAS indicate strong two-photon-induced blue fluorescence of 436 and 440 nm, respectively, while trans-4-(N-(ethyl 4″-nitrobenzoate)-N-ethyl amino)-4′-(diethyl amino) stilbene (DEANHAS) and DMANHAS exhibit no fluorescence.     

Peculiarities of the environmental influence on the optical properties of push-pull nonlinear optical molecules: a theoretical study

Gas-phase geometry optimization of NLO-active molecules is one of the standard approaches in the first principle computational methodology, whereas the important role of the environment is usually not considered during the evaluation of structural parameters. With a wide variety of environmentally influenced models in most cases only the high quality single point calculations are prepared. Among different approaches, the most used polarizable continuum model (PCM) seems to be promising. In this study, we have compared the electronic properties of gas-phase optimized geometries of imidazole-derived push-pull compounds with those optimized using PCM solvation approach including CH(2)Cl(2) and PMMA as media. We have focused particularly on the linear optical properties of investigated molecules, namely on the UV-vis absorption spectra. The analysis of presented results shows the applicability of the different quantum chemical (QC) methods for the UV-vis spectra calculations of linear NLO molecules. Herein we also present the need of molecule geometry optimization affected by the environment. Following the performed calculations, the electronic properties of gas-phase optimized molecules give conformable results with respect to those obtained by more time-consuming continuum optimizations. All computational data are supported by experimental investigations.     

Macroscopic methods: Magnetic,optical, and calorimetric techniques

The recent effervescent impetus in the spin transition research field is associated with the prodigious multidisciplinary effort that is carried out by different research groups all over the world. Indeed, more and more groups are working in this exciting research field. Nevertheless, this renewed interest also reflects the evolution of the characterization techniques that have been used since the earliest studies of these molecular-based switchable materials. Indeed, we have passed from traditional characterization methods such as UV–vis and Mössbauer spectroscopy or torque magnetometers to the most advanced techniques that are even capable to monitor a spin transition in a single molecule (e.g., X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, etc.). In this study, we will focus on the basis and the evolution of three critical macroscopic tools, i.e. the optical, magnetic, and calorimetric characterization methods.     

Organometallic complexes for nonlinear optics: Part 32: Synthesis, optical spectroscopy and theoretical studies of some osmium alkynyl complexes

The complexes trans-[Os(CCPh)Cl(dppe)₂] (1), trans-[Os(4-CCC₆H₄CCPh)Cl(dppe)₂] (2), and 1,3,5-{trans-[OsCl(dppe)₂(4-CCC₆H₄CC)]}₃C₆H₃ (3) have been prepared. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal a quasi-reversible oxidation process for each complex at 0.36–0.39 V (with respect to the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple at 0.56 V), assigned to the Os^II/III couple. In situ oxidation of 1–3 using an optically transparent thin-layer electrochemical (OTTLE) cell affords the UV–Vis–NIR spectra of the corresponding cationic complexes 1⁺–3⁺; a low-energy band is observed in the near-IR region (11 000–14 000 cm⁻¹) in each case, in contrast to the neutral complexes 1–3 which are optically transparent below 20 000 cm⁻¹. Density functional theory calculations on the model compounds trans-[Os(CCPh)Cl(PH₃)₄] and trans-[Os(4-CCC₆H₄CCPh)Cl(PH₃)₄] have been used to rationalize the observed optical spectra and suggest that the low-energy bands in the spectra of the cationic complexes can be assigned to transitions involving orbitals delocalized over the metal, chloro and alkynyl ligands. These intense bands have potential utility in switching nonlinear optical response, of interest in optical technology.     

Synthesis, photophysical properties, and theoretical studies on pyrrole-containing bromo Re(I) complex

Two bromo rhenium(I) carbonyl complexes with the formula of [Re(CO)₃(L)Br], where L = 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen-Re) and 5-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (Pyph-Re), were successfully synthesized with the aim to analyze the effect of the pyrrole (Py) moiety on the photophysical properties of Pyph-Re. It was found that the triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer dπ (Re) → π*(N-N) emission of Phen-Re and Pyph-Re centered at ca. 527 nm with the luminescence quantum yield (LQY) of 0.015 and ca. 578 nm with the LQY of 0.011, respectively. At the same time, the geometrical structures of the ground state and the absorption spectral properties of Phen-Re and Pyph-Re were also calculated with the 6-31G* basis set employed on C, H, N, O, and Br atoms, and LANL2DZ adopted on Re atom. According to the experimental and theoretical analysis, the red-shift of the photoluminescent spectrum and the lower LQY of Pyph-Re should be mainly attributed to the narrower energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and the more LLCT transition ration of Pyph-Re, respectively.