Twelve novel D–π–A chromophores with the N,N′-dibutylbarbituric acid acceptor, the N,N-dimethylamino donor and a systematically extended π-linker were synthesized. The extent of intramolecular charge-transfer, structure–property relationships and nonlinear optical properties were further investigated by X-ray analysis, electrochemistry, UV/Vis absorption spectra, calculations and EFISH experiments.
