Hyperpolarizability studies and Hirshfeld surface analysis of two heterocyclic chalcones

In this work, the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of two heterocyclic chalcones, (E)-1-(5-chlorothiophen-2-yl)-3-(thiophen-2yl)-2-propen-1-one (CLTT) and (E)-1-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)-3-(5-methylthiophen-2-yl)prop-2en-1-one (2MFT), are investigated. Using an iterative electrostatic embedding approach via the Møller-Plesset perturbation (MP2) theory, the chalcone crystals were simulated and the polarization effects on the isolated molecules are investigated. The electrical parameters of CLTT and 2MFT as dipole moment and linear polarizability were calculated via MP2/6-311++G(d) and the second hyperpolarizability was obtained via DFT/CAM-B3-LYP/6-311++G(d) level. A significant influence of the molecular packing on the chalcone electric parameters was observed. The static linear refractive index and the third-order electric susceptibility of the compounds were calculated and compared with experimental results available for other chalcone derivatives, indicating the CLTT crystal as a promising candidate for NLO applications in photonic and optoelectronic devices. The Hirshfeld surface analysis has been used to quantify the intermolecular interactions of the molecular crystals. Additionally, the solvent medium effects on the electrical properties of the heterocyclic chalcones were also studied.