We report the design, synthesis and characterization of a series of electro-optic chromophores comprised of amino-benzene with a benzyloxy group as the donor units, thienyl-di-vinylene with ethylenedioxy as the π-conjugation bridge, and tricyanofuran derivatives as the acceptor units. The improvement of linear and nonlinear optical properties was found in electro-optic chromophores with ethylenedioxy compared with the chromophores without ethylenedioxy. The data obtained from hyper-Rayleigh scattering, absorption spectrum, and 1H-NMR measurements indicate the improved structural stability of π-conjugation unit, which may be induced by the steric effect and partial intra-molecular hydrogen bonding related to ethylenedioxy.

doi: 10.1364/OME.6.003020