Abstract Stable, highly colored push-pull chromophores with NMe 2 donor and C= C (CN) 2 acceptor moieties, featuring intense intramolecular charge-transfer (CT) bands in the UV/Vis spectra, are reported. In an attempt to prepare the quinoid push-pull systems 2, chromophores 10 and 11, with a central cyclohexene spacer, were obtained and characterized by X-ray analysis. A series of donor-substituted TCAQ (11, 11, 12, 12- ...