Synthesis and characterization of polymethacrylate containing the NLO-phore 4-(p-oxyphenyliminomethylidene)-4′-nitrostilbene

abstract ethacryloyloxyethoxy)-N-(4-stilbenzylidene)aniline (6) was prepared by the reaction of methacryloyl chloride with p-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-N-(4-stilbenzylidene)aniline (5). Monomer 6 was copolymerized with MMA by radical initiators to obtain polymers (7) containing 4-(p-oxyphenyliminomethylidene)-4′-nitrostilbene, which is presumably effective chromophore for second-order nonlinear optical applications. The internal double bond in stilbene moiety participates in the vinyl polymerization to a minor extent, resulting in crosslinking. Copolymer 7 showed a thermal stability up to 300°C in TGA thermograms, and the Tg value obtained from DSC thermograms were around 120–166°C, which is acceptable for NLO device applications.