Organometallic Complexes for Nonlinear Optics, 47 – Synthesis and Cubic Optical Nonlinearity of a Stilbenylethynylruthenium Dendrimer

The synthesis of the 1st generation dendrimer 1,3,5‐{ trans ‐[Ru(C≡C‐3,5‐( trans ‐[Ru(C≡CPh)(dppe) 2 (C≡CC 6 H 4 ‐4‐( E )‐CHCH)]) 2 C 6 H 3 )(dppe) 2 (C≡CC 6 H 4 ‐4‐( E )‐CHCH)]} 3 C 6 H 3 proceeds by a novel route that features Emmons‐Horner‐Wadsworth coupling of 1,3,5‐C 6 H 3 (CH 2 PO(OEt) 2 ) 3 with trans ‐[Ru(C≡CC 6 H 4 ‐4‐CHO)Cl(dppe) 2 ] and 1‐I‐C 6 H 3 ‐3,5‐(CH 2 PO(OEt) 2 ) 2 with trans ‐[Ru(C≡CPh)(C≡CC 6 H 4 ‐4‐CHO)(dppe) 2 ] as key steps. The stilbenylethynylruthenium dendrimer is much more soluble than its ethynylated analog 1,3,5‐{ trans ‐[Ru(C≡C‐3,5‐( trans ‐[Ru(C≡CPh)(dppe) 2 (C≡CC 6 H 4 ‐4‐C≡C)]) 2 C 6 H 3 )(dppe) 2 (C≡CC 6 H 4 ‐4‐C≡C)]} 3 C 6 H 3 and, in contrast to the ethynylated analog, is a two‐photon absorber at telecommunications wavelengths.