Determination of the first molecular hyperpolarizability, β, of some organomercury compounds by solvatochromism

Twelve arylmercuric nitrophenylacetylides, (where DI, Br, Cl, MeO, EtO, Me, H2N, MeHN, Me2N or O2N; R1H or Me; R2H or Me), have been synthesised, and their β, the first molecular hyperpolarizability, have been examined by solvatochromism to be in the order of 10−29 esu while the λmax in the electronic spectra are around 310nm. These linear organomercury molecules may represent a new approach to solve the conflict between increasing nonlinearity and improving transparency.