Abstract

Crystal engineering is increasingly turning towards functional materials. Octupolar . NLO active substances are expected to overcome many of the disadvantages posed by dipolar species. While octupolar non-linearity has been demonstrated at the molecular level, its demonstration in supramolecular crystalline systems remains a challenge. Trigonal, non- centrosymmetric assemblies of trigonal molecules lead to supramolecular octupolar networks. However, most trigonal molecules do not assemble into trigonal networks. In this work, the principles of crystal engineering have been used in the carry-over of molecular symmetry into the crystals structures of six related compounds. Supramolecular retrosynthesis of a trigonal network based on herringbone interactions leads to 2,4,6-triaryloxy-l,3,5-triazines as the starting materials. Six triazines are analyzed and their molecular non-linearities are measured by HLS experiments.

© 1998 IEEE