A novel material 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate has been successfully synthesized. Good optical quality crystals were grown using solution growth technique. Powder and single-crystal X-ray studies have been carried out for grown crystals and lattice parameters have been identified. FTIR spectra were recorded to identify the various functional groups present in the crystal. NMR spectrum studies have also been done. The second harmonic generation test of the grown crystal has been carried out. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.