A new distyrylbenzene derivative with Weinreb amide functionality: An efficient laser dye and nonlinear optical material

We report here the synthesis of a distyrylbenzene derivative with end substituent as Weinreb amide. This Weinreb amide-based distyrylbenzene (WADSB) gives indications of highly efficient laser dye as well as a nonlinear optical medium. The photophysical parameters of the dye are given here. The lasing spectra of the dye have been measured in a cuvette configuration. The third-order nonlinear susceptibility has been measured by laser-induced transient grating technique (LITG). A comparison with the existing standard molecules shows that it is a comparably an efficient lasing material as well as an efficient nonlinear optical material at the pump wavelength of 355 nm. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.