Organometallic complexes for nonlinear optics: Part 21. Syntheses and quadratic hyperpolarizabilities of alkynyl complexes containing optically active 1,2-bis(methylphenylphosphino)benzene ligands

The preparation of the chloro complex trans-[FeCl2{(R,R)-diph}2] (1) and the alkynyl complexes trans-[M(4-CCC6H4R)Cl{(R,R)-diph}2] [M=Fe, R=NO2 (2); M=Ru, R=H (4), NO2 (5), (E)-CHCH-4-C6H4NO2 (6); M=Os, R=NO2 (7)], incorporating the optically active diphosphine 1,2-bis(methylphenylphosphino)benzene (diph), are described. Oxidation potentials, as determined by cyclic voltammetry, increase as 2<7<5. Molecular quadratic nonlinearities by hyper-Rayleigh scattering at 1064 nm increase upon introduction of an acceptor group (4<5), chain-lengthening of bridging group (5<6), and proceeding from 3d to 4d and 5d metal (2≤5≤7). Two-level-corrected nonlinearities reproduce the first two trends, but metal variation follows the sequence 2<7<5. The experimental and two-level-corrected nonlinearities for 6 (2795×10−30 and 406×10−30 esu, respectively), are amongst the largest observed thus far for organometallic complexes. Crystals of complexes 2 and 7 exhibit second-harmonic generation (assessed using the Kurtz powder technique), with an efficiency for the former of twice that of urea.