Synthesis and characterization of new methacrylic monomers based on pyridine-containing azomethines

New methacrylic monomers based on pyridine-containing azomethines: 4-[(pyridine-4-ylmethylene)amino]phenyl 2-methacrylate and 4-[(pyridine-3-ylmethylene)amino]phenyl 2-methacrylate were synthesized. The structures of these compounds were confirmed using NMR spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that the new monomers are reactive in radical homo- and copolymerization with vinyl monomers, indicating their usefulness in the synthesis of new polymeric materials. Quantum chemical calculations using semiempirical PM3 method, Hartree-Fock, and DFT/B3LYP levels were performed to determine the optical gap, chemical hardness, electronegativity, electrophilicity index, the electric dipole moment, polarizability, total static first and second hyperpolarizability of the new compounds. The calculated high hyperpolarizability values indicate their potential as organic molecular materials for nonlinear-optical crystals and devices.