Synthesis and characterization of mono- and bis-D-π-A cryptand derivatives for second-order nonlinear optics and its modulation with different metal ion inputs

Abstract

Two new classes of mono- and bis-D-π-A cryptand derivatives with a flexible and a rigid cryptand core have been synthesized. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of these molecules are probed. The three dimensional cavity of the cryptand moiety has been utilized to modulate the SHG intensity to different extents in solution with metal ion inputs such as Ni^II, Cu^II, Zn^II, and Cd^II. We also report that decomplexation events can be used to reversibly modulate their NLO responses.