Modular approach to obtaining organic glasses from low-molecular weight dyes using 1,1,1-triphenylpentane auxiliary groups: Nonlinear optical properties

•The use of a 1,1,1-triphenylpentane auxiliary group allows to obtain molecular glasses from low-molecular weight dyes.•The glass transition temperatures of the materials were in the range of 73–108 °C.•Non-linear optical activity in thin amorphous films was measured after an external electrical field poling procedure.•With the increase of chromophore polarity partial π–π stacking of molecules was observed in the solid phase.

A new modular synthetic approach to obtain organic glasses from low-molecular weight azobenzenes and stilbenes has been accomplished using 1,1,1-triphenylpentane crystallization preventing auxiliary groups. Six new structures show excellent solubility in non-polar solvents and thin films with good optical qualities have been obtained using a spin-coating technique. The glass transition temperatures of the new amorphous materials were in the range of 73–108 °C. The nonlinear optical activity in thin amorphous films was measured after a corona poling procedure.

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