The class of molecules with mobile parts: Catenanes and rotaxanes for nonlinear optical applications

Catenanes and rotaxanes are a new class of functional organic molecules compose from mobile parts and designed for use in various types of practical applications. They can exhibit interesting third order nonlinear optical properties. In this paper we will present and discuss study of the rotational contributions to the cubic susceptibility as observed by polarization dependent degenerate four wave mixing experiments on solutions of selected catenanes and rotaxanes.