A series of new heterocyclic chromophores 3-6 were synthesised in moderate to excellent yields by condensation of 5,6-phenantroline-dione with formyl-thiophene derivatives 1-2 in the presence of ammonium acetate in glacial acetic acid. These chromophores possess a (oligo)thienyl- π-conjugated system attached to an imidazophenanthroline moiety. These derivatives were evaluated concerning their solvatochromic properties, thermal stabilities and molecular optical nonlinearities. ; Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) - projecto PTDC/QUI/66250/2006, bolsa de doutoramento a R.M.F. Batista SFRH/BD/36396/2007), (FCT-UNL) REQUIMTE.