Growth, spectral, and thermal characterization of 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde semicarbazone

2-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde semicarbazone (HMBS) has been synthesized from 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde and semicarbazide hydrochloride using sodium acetate as catalyst. Good quality single crystals of HMBS were successfully grown by slow evaporation method at room temperature using a mixture of DMF and ethanol as solvent. Fourier transform infrared and Fourier transform Raman spectral studies have been performed to identify the functional groups. Single-crystal XRD study was conducted to obtain the crystal structure and lattice parameters. The grown crystal was subjected to ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectral studies in order to confirm its structure and purity. The compound crystallizes into a monoclinic P21/c space group. Intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions facilitate unit cell packing in the crystal lattice. The UV–Vis spectrum confirmed the transparency of the compound between the wavelengths 420 and 1,100 nm, which is a characteristic property of a nonlinear optical (NLO) material. The thermal decomposition of the compound under static air atmosphere was investigated by simultaneous TG–DTG at a heating rate of 10 °C min^?1. The NLO property of HMBS was confirmed from the second-harmonic generation by Kurtz–Perry powder test.