Effecient synthesis and decomposition study of optically nonlinear adducts of tetracyanoquinodimethane

Described are the synthetic conditions resulting in a significant improvement in both yield and reaction time of Z-β-(1-substituted-4-pyridinium)-α-cyano-4-styryldicyanomethanide chromophores. A decomposition study of the zwitterionic chromophores in solution is also described.