Synthesis of novel two-dimensional spindle-type fluorinated nonlinear optical chromophores

► Two novel two-dimensional spindle-type fluorinated chromophores were prepared. ► The products had been confirmed by IR, NMR, elemental analysis and TGA. ► Host–guest doped materials had been used to prepare the second-order NLO films. ► The host–guest doped films with 2-D chromophores exhibit large r 33 values. ► The NLO-phores we synthesized are interesting for further practical applications. Two novel two-dimensional spindle-type fluorinated chromophores with fluorinated phenyl as side groups connecting to the π conjugated bridge were prepared for second-order nonlinear optical applications. The detailed synthetic procedure was reported. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that the spindle-type fluorinated chromophores have excellent thermal stability. Host–guest doped materials had been used to prepare the second-order nonlinear optical films. The nonlinear electro-optic (EO) coefficient of the poled films was measured by Teng–Man technique at the fundamental wavelength of 1310 nm, and the r 33 up to 28 pm/V was achieved.