Hydrogels that degrade under appropriate conditions of pH and temperature by virtue of crosslinking compounds that cleave through an elimination reaction are described. The hydrogels may be used for delivery of various agents, such as pharmaceuticals.

Nonlinear optical chromophores having thiophene-containing bridging groups between the electron-donating and electron-accepting ends of the chromophore are disclosed, including bridging groups which contain cyclic moieties in combination with conjugated double bonds between the electron-donating and electron-accepting ends of the chromophore.

A composition for preparing an electro-optic material including a first polyimide having a high molecular weight, and a second polyimide having a lower molecular weight and including a structural unit including a chromophore functional group in the side chain, an electro-optic material including the composition, an electro-optic device including the electro-optic material, and a method of preparing the electro-optic material.

Hydrogels that degrade under appropriate conditions of pH and temperature by virtue of crosslinking compounds that cleave through an elimination reaction are described. The hydrogels may be used for delivery of various agents, such as pharmaceuticals.

A composition for preparing a nonlinear optic material including an organic chromophore that is polarized by an electric field, a precursor that can form an inorganic material polymer by a sol-gel reaction, and a compatibilizer that can bind to both the organic chromophore and the inorganic material polymer, wherein the organic chromophore includes a functional group at a terminal end that can bind to both the inorganic material polymer and the compatibilizer, a nonlinear optic material prepared from the composition, a method of preparing the nonlinear optic material, and an electro-optic device including the nonlinear optic material are disclosed.

A compound for spacing nonlinear optical chromophores of the Formula I

##STR00001##

and the commercially acceptable salts, solvates and hydrates thereof, wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, W, X, Y, Z, Q.sup.1, Q.sup.2, Q.sup.4 and L have the definitions provided herein.

A composition for preparing an electro-optic material including a first polyimide having a high molecular weight, and a second polyimide having a lower molecular weight and including a structural unit including a chromophore functional group in the side chain, an electro-optic material including the composition, an electro-optic device including the electro-optic material, and a method of preparing the electro-optic material.

Problem to Be Solved: to provide a chromophore having a far superior nonlinear optical activity to conventional chromophores and to provide a nonlinear optical element comprising said chromophore. Solution: a chromophore comprising a donor structure D, a -conjugated bridge structure B, and an acceptor structure A, the donor structure D comprising an aryl group substituted with a substituted oxy group; and a nonlinear optical element comprising said chromophore.

Hydrogels that degrade under appropriate conditions of pH and temperature by virtue of crosslinking compounds that cleave through an elimination reaction are described. The hydrogels may be used for delivery of various agents, such as pharmaceuticals.

Nonlinear optical chromophores having one or more diamondoid groups covalently attached to the chromophore, methods of making nonlinear optical chromophores, their use in thin films and electro-optical devices containing such nonlinear optical chromophores and thin films comprising the same.