From Chains to Chromophores: Tailored Thermal and Linear/Nonlinear Optical Features of Asymmetric Pyrimidine—Coumarin Systems


Nicolas P., Abdallah S., Chen D., Rizzi G., Jeannin O., Clays K., ...Daha Fazla

Molecules, cilt.30, sa.21, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 30 Sayı: 21
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3390/molecules30214322
  • Dergi Adı: Molecules
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: asymmetric pyrimidine, luminescence, second harmonic generation, thermal behavior, two-photon absorption
  • Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Eleven novel asymmetric pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized. The pyrimidine core was functionalized with a coumarin chromophore and a pro-mesogenic fragment bearing either chiral or linear alkyl chains of variable length and substitution patterns. The thermal properties were investigated using polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small-angle X-ray scattering, revealing that only selected derivatives exhibited liquid crystalline phases with ordered columnar or smectic organizations. Linear and nonlinear optical properties were characterized by UV–Vis absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, two-photon absorption, and second-harmonic generation. Optical responses were found to be highly sensitive to the substitution pattern: derivatives functionalized at the 4 and 3,4,5 positions exhibited enhanced 2PA cross-sections and pronounced SHG signals, whereas variations in alkyl chain length exerted only a minor influence. Notably, compounds forming highly ordered non-centrosymmetric mesophases produced robust SHG-active thin films. Importantly, strong SHG responses were obtained without the need for a chiral center, as the inherent asymmetry of the linear alkyl chain derivatives was sufficient to drive self-organization into non-centrosymmetric materials. These results demonstrate that asymmetric pyrimidine-based architectures combining π-conjugation and controlled supramolecular organization are promising candidates for nonlinear optical applications such as photonic devices, multiphoton imaging, and optical data storage.