Substituted Azole Derivatives as Nonlinear Optical Chromophores

A series of nonlinear optical chromophores containing a single substituted thiazole ring has been synthesized and characterized. Selected imidazole, oxazole, and phenyl analogues have also been prepared and characterized for comparison. All experimental hyperpolarizabilities have been extrapolated to zero frequency for purposes of comparison using the well-established two-level model. The thiazoles are superior to oxazoles and imidazoles from a nonlinear point of view. The reasons for their superiority and the implications for their use in optoelectronic devicevs are discussed. © 1994, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.