Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of novel conjugated small molecules based on indole donor

Buchwald-Hartwig amination of aryl halides with solvent-free condition was used for the preparation of electron donors with high density of electron cloud. Organic second order nonlinear optical chromophore ZML-c based on this electron donor was designed and synthesized. And chromophore ZML-ref without modified groups was also prepared as the contrast. Their delocalized energy levels were estimated by UV-Vis. spectra. Their thermal properties were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Obviously, chromophore ZML-c showed lower delocalized energy levels and lower thermal decomposition temperature (just about 160 °C). The poled films showed the largest electro-optic (EO) coefficients of 23.5 pm/V and 10.6 pm/V respectively for chromophore ZML-c and ZML-ref. These results indicate that effective modification in indole ring may be a promising way to drastically change the electro-optical features of the titled compounds and show a direction of designing new electron donor in the field of nonlinear optical materials.