The substituted [2.2] paracyclophanes as versatile platform for a design of new optical materials

The series of novel unsymmetrical beta-diketones substituted by functional groups with different donor-acceptor properties, as well as of their lanthanide complexes have been synthesized for the first time. The optical properties of these [2.2]paracyclophane-derived ligands and the lanthanide complexes were studied by UV-visible and luminescence spectroscopy. The energy of absorption maximum of these beta-diketones correlates with donor-acceptor properties of functional groups and a size of the conjugated system. All beta-diketonates synthesized exhibit broad emission spectra with red shifted maxima in comparison with isolated [2.2]paracyclophane moiety. The designed blue-emitting unsymmetrical beta-diketones act as very efficient sensitizers of the Eu3+ emission with excitation wavelength up to 450 nm. Nonlinear optical properties have been studies for some beta-diketones as well. Their average NLO susceptibility was found comparable with that of such well known NLO crystal as PNP.