Abstract: The present invention relates to a tetraketone of the structure ##STR1## wherein M is a metal atom and R is selected from phenyl, alkyl substituted phenyl or halogen substituted phenyl. The process to prepare this tetraketone is disclosed. The present invention also relates to a process to produce the tetraketone structure (I). The present invention also relates to the novel polymer of the structure ##STR2## and to the process to produce this novel polymer. R is as defined hereinabove and Ar is a tetraamine substituted organic moiety having at least one aromatic ring. These polymers are useful as liquid crystals and in nonlinear optical devices.