Synthesis and third-order optical nonlinearities of anthracenedione derivatives

Six D–π–A–π–D anthracenedione derivatives were synthesized and characterized by UV, IR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. The third-order nonlinear optical properties of the compounds were measured using femtosecond degenerate four-wave mixing. The third-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities χ(3) of the compounds were 2.64–3.83 × 10−13 esu. The second-order hyperpolarizabilities γ of the molecules were 2.86–3.84 × 10−31 esu. The response times were 86–108 fs.