Fluorinated crosslinked electro-optic materials and electro-optic devices therefrom

1. A process, comprising: a) providing a guest chromophore in a polymer host, wherein both the guest chromophore and polymer host contain fluorinated crosslinkable groups; b) applying an electric field to the composite to induce electro-optic activity; and c) crosslinking the composite.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the chromophore has the formula D-π-A, wherein π is a π bridge including a thiophene ring having oxygen atoms bonded directly to the 3 and 4 positions of the thiophene ring, D is a donor, and A is an acceptor.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the oxygen atoms are independently substituted with an alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the chromophore has the structure:

wherein, independently at each occurrence: π 1 is absent or a π-bridge; π 2 is absent or a π-bridge; D is an donor; A is an acceptor; X is O or S; and R is an alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, or heteroaryl group.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the chromophore has the structure D-π-A, wherein π is a π bridge, D is a donor chosen from the group consisting of:

and A is an acceptor selected from the group consisting of

wherein independently at each occurrence: R 1 is hydrogen, a halogen except when bonded to a carbon alpha to or directly to a nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur atom, or an alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, or heteroaryl group; R 2 is hydrogen or an alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, or heteroaryl group; Y is O, S or Se; m is 2, 3 or 4; p is 0, 1 or 2; and q is 0 or 1.

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the donor is selected from the group consisting of:

wherein, independently at each occurrence: R 1 is hydrogen, a halogen except when bonded to a carbon alpha to or directly to a nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur atom, or an alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, or heteroaryl group; and R 2 is hydrogen or an alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, or heteroaryl group.