Synthesis and characterization of a new isoxazolone-based nonlinear optical crystal: MPMOI†
Abstract
A new 3-(4-methoxy)phenyl-5-isoxazolone-based crystal MPMOI (C18H15NO4) was designed and synthesized by the substitution of –OCH3 groups on two sides of the molecular framework. Striped yellow MPMOI crystals were successfully grown by slow evaporation from chloroform solution. Due to the introduction of the –OCH3 group, MPMOI crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric space group of P212121 and exhibits a second harmonic generation (SHG) response about 3.7 times larger than that of KDP under a 1064 nm fundamental laser. Thermal analysis, UV-visible absorption, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy were also performed to characterize the physical and chemical properties of MPMOI. This work not only presents a new NLO crystal, but also provides a feasible design strategy for group substitution.