Syntheses and structures' influence on the nonlinear optical properties of o-ferrocenylbenzoate compounds

Two o-ferrocenylbenzoate based complexes {[Pb(η2-o-OOCH4C6Fc)2(phen)](NO3)} (1) and {[Zn(η2-o-OOCH4C6Fc)2(bpe)](CH3OH)}n (2) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 gives a discrete mononuclear framework, 2 features an infinite 1-D chain structure constructed by the bpe linking two adjacent zinc (II) ions. Determination of the third-order NLO properties of complexes 1, 2 and o-NaOOCH4C6Fc shows that the structures of complexes have a significant effect on the NLO properties. In addition, their electrochemical properties were also investigated.