Efficient π electrons delocalization in prospective push-pull non-linear optical chromophore 4-[N,N-dimethylamino]-4′-nitro stilbene (DANS): A vibrational spectroscopic study

A comprehensive investigation on the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) of an efficient π-conjugated potential push-pull NLO chromophore, 4-[N,N-dimethylamino]-4′-nitro stilbene (DANS), from a strong electron-donor group (dimethylamino-N(CH3)2) to a strong electron-acceptor group (nitro-NO2) through the π-conjugated bridge (trans-stilbene) has been carried out from their vibrational spectra. The NIR FT-Raman and FT-IR spectra supported by the density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical computations have been employed to analyze the effects of intramolecular charge transfer on the geometries and the vibrational modes contributing to the linear electro-optic effect of the organic NLO material. It has been observed that the changes in the endocyclic and exocyclic angles result from the charge-transfer interaction of the phenyl ring and the amino group in the electron-donor side of the NLO chromophore. The strongest vibrational modes contributing to the electro-optic effect have been identified and examined from the concurrent IR and Raman activation of ν(CC/C-C) mode, ring CC stretching modes, in-plane deformation modes, nitro modes and the umbrella mode of methyl groups. Furthermore, the splitting of the vinyl stretching modes and the electronic effects such as hyperconjugation and backdonation on the methyl hydrogen atoms causing the decrease of stretching frequencies and infrared intensities have also been analyzed in detail. The effect of frontier orbitals transition of electron density transfer and the influence of planarity between the phenyl rings of the stilbene moiety on the first hyperpolarizability have also been discussed.