Main chain chromophoric polymers with second order nonlinear optical properties

Main-chain chromophoric processible homopolymers and copolymers

• having nonlinear optical properties and defined by the general formula:
• --Sp--D--B--A.sub.n
• where D-B-A is a chromophoric unit in which:
• D is an amine electron donating group --NR.sub.1 --, where R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, and alkenyl having one to 22 carbon atoms;
• Sp is the spacer group selected from the group consisting of --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- and --(CF.sub.2).sub.n --, where n' is 2 to 12;
• A is selected from the following electron accepting groups:
• ##STR10## where Z is selected from the group consisting of --O--, and --NH--;
• where R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of --H,-- CH.sub.3, --CF.sub.3, --CN, and --NO.sub.2 ;
• and,
• where B is selected from one of the following connector groups:
• ##STR11## where X is --CH.dbd. or nitrogen;
• R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each selected from the group consisting of --H, --CH.sub.3, --CF.sub.3, and OR.sub.6, where R.sub.6 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, and alkylene having one to 22 carbon atoms;
• R.sub.7 is selected from the group consisting of --H, --CH.sub.3, --CF.sub.3, --CN, and --NO.sub.2 ;
• and i is 1 to 2:
• and
• n is about 2 to about 10,000 wherein the Sp--D--B--A-- units are oriented in a head-to-tail configuration.