One- and two-photon absorption and emission properties of heteroaromatic bichromophores

We present the design, synthesis, and characterization of a class of heteroaromatic bichromophores in order to investigate intermolecular interactions and their effect on optical and nonlinear optical properties. As a design strategy we have linked two dipolar or quadrupolar units through a non-conjugated alkyl chain. The two units are connected either through their donor or their acceptor end-groups. This study represents a first step towards the design of bi- and multichromophoric systems with optimized NLO responses in order to exploit collective and cooperative effects from interchromophore interactions.