The design of coordination compounds with solvent-responsive optical properties remains a central challenge in molecular photonics. Here, we describe the synthesis and full characterisation of a symmetrical tetradentate diamine ligand, 3,3′-((1,2-phenylenebis(azanediyl))- bis(methanylylidene))bis(pentane-2,4-dione) (H₂L), and its neutral square-planar complexes [M(L)] (M(II) = Co, Ni, Cu). The Cu(II) complex crystallised as [Cu(L)]⋅0.5 (pyrazine), adopting a nearly square-planar geometry (τ₄ = 0.06) in the solid state, as confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In DMSO solution, UV–Vis spectra revealed reversible axial coordination of two solvent molecules, driving a transformation to a distorted octahedral geometry. Structural assignments were supported by FT-IR, UV–Vis, NMR, ESI-MS, conductivity, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations (B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p) for H₂L; LANL2DZ for the complexes) reproduced the experimental geometries, mapped frontier orbital distributions, and yielded global reactivity descriptors. Among the complexes, [Cu(L)] displayed the narrowest HOMO–LUMO gap (ΔE = 3.911 eV), the highest polarisability (α = 305.3 a.u.), and an exceptionally large second-order hyperpolarisability (β = 2.20 × 104 a.u.), surpassing benchmark compounds such as urea, p-nitroaniline (pNA), and 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (MNA) by more than 50 %. These results highlight diamine-derived N₂O₂ frameworks as promising candidates for solvent-responsive nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, combining hydrolytic stability with geometry switching and enhanced second-order optical performance. Importantly, X-ray data reveal that coordination to Cu(II) induces electron redistribution, imparting imine-like character to the nitrogen donors despite the diamine nature of the free ligand. This interplay highlights both the novelty and the performance advantage of the present system within the second-order NLO domain of Cu(II) complexes.
