Diglycine hydrochloride (DGHCl), a new semiorganic nonlinear optical material with the molecular formula C4H11O4Cl, was synthesized at ambient temperature. The solubility of DGHCl in water at varying temperatures was determined. Bulk single crystals were grown by the slow evaporation method at constant temperature. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the grown DGHCl were recorded and indexed. Functional groups present in the sample crystals were identified by FTIR spectral analysis. The chemical composition of the synthesized material was confirmed by CHN analysis. Thermal characteristics of DGHCl were determined from the TGA/DTA response curve. The Kurtz powder second harmonic generation (SHG) test showed potential for optical SHG. The UV cut-off of transmission was identified from the UV-VIS absorption spectra. The SHG of DGHCl is discussed on the basis of structural characteristics of the title compound. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.