Water-Soluble [2.2]Paracyclophane Chromophores with Large Two-Photon Action Cross Sections

A series of α,ω-donor-substituted distyrylbenzene dimers held together by the [2.2]paracyclophane core were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Different substituents were chosen to modulate the strength of the donor nitrogen groups and to allow the molecules to be either neutral and soluble in nonpolar organic solvents or charged and water-soluble. The specific neutral structures are (in order of decreasing donor strength) 4,7,12,15-tetra[N,N-bis(6‘ ‘-chlorohexyl)-4‘-aminostyryl]-[2.2]paracyclophane (1N), 4,7,12,15-tetra[(N-(6‘ ‘-chlorohexyl)carbazol-3‘-yl)vinyl]-[2.2]paracyclophane (2N), and 4,7,12,15-tetra[N,N-bis(4‘ ‘-(6‘ ‘‘-chlorohexyl)phenyl)-4‘-aminostyryl]-[2.2]paracyclophane (3N). The charged species are 4,7,12,15-tetra[N,N-bis(6‘ ‘-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)-4‘-aminostyryl]-[2.2]paracyclophane octaiodide (1C), 4,7,12,15-tetra[(N-(6‘ ‘-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl)carbazol-3‘-yl)vinyl]-[2.2]paracyclophane octaiodide (2C), and 4,7,12,15-tetra[N,N-bis(4‘ ‘-(6‘ ‘‘-(N,N,N-trimethylammoni...