Spectral and structural study of two acceptor-substituted pyridinium-betaines of squaric acid: Promising chromophores for nonlinear optical applications

Two acceptor-substituted chromophores (3- and 4-benzoylpyridinium-betaines of squaric acid) were characterized by means of thermogravimetric analysis and UV-vis and IR spectra. The experiment is supported by theoretical predictions undertaken at different levels of approximation (MP2 and DFT/B3LYP). The results of the optimized molecular structure are presented and compared with the X-ray diffraction data for both chromophores studied. Generalized atomic polar tensor (GAPT) model was chosen for calculation of atomic charges of studied species. The charge distribution over fragments indicates that strongly polarized systems are present. Harmonic vibrational frequencies of the molecules were evaluated theoretically using B3LYP/6-311G** level. The nonlinear optical efficiency of both chromophores was estimated by molecular parameters such as absorption maxima in various solvents of different polarity, ground state dipole and difference between ground and excited state dipole moments. A static hyperpolarizability for 4-benzoyl chromophore was provided from EOAM experiment for a dioxane solution. Combined with the noncentrosymmertic crystal structure of the same isomer and the exceptional thermal stability of both species, these studies gave evidences for their reliability as nonlinear optical materials.