Two-photon absorption properties of a new series of 2CTσ chromophores

We have designed and synthesized a new series of two-photon ASPT-like charge transfer moieties linked by σ-bond spacers to N-position of pyridine cycle. Both theoretical and experimental results show there is no linear absorption in 600–1300 nm, so two-photon properties can be expected in this range. Two-photon absorption (TPA) cross-sections were calculated by using INDO/CI and SOS methods. The results show that those compounds possess large cross-sections as well as appropriate absorption wavelengths. Also the magnitude of the cross-section changes regularly with the number of the σ-bond spacers. These imply that they are good candidates for two-photon devices.