Synthesis and characterization of an active styrlthiophene monomer and its polyurethane with second-order optical nonlinearity

A novel monomer, (trans)-7-[4-N,N-(di-beta-hydroxyethyl) amino-benzene]-ethenyl-3,5-dinitrothiophene (HBDT), and the corresponding prepolymer, polyurethane were synthesized and characterized. The details of synthesis of the monomer and its further polymerization were presented. The prepolymer and polyurethane exhibited good thermal stability and good solubility in common organic solvents. The d(33) coefficient of the poled films was determined to be 40.3 pm/V. (C) 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.