Abstract: Nonlinear optical compounds having structures with delocalized resonance configurations corresponding to: ##STR1## wherein A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 are independently selected from electron withdrawing moieties; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from aromatic rings, heteroaromatic rings and fused ring systems consisting of two or three aromatic or heteroaromatic rings; n and m are integers from one to five, and D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 are independently selected from hydrogen, electron donating groups and polymer attachment groups, with the proviso that at least one of D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 is an electron donating group. Polymers blended with, cured with, or having pendant side chains of the disclosed nonlinear optical materials and exhibiting second order nonlinear optical properties are also disclosed.