A novel family of allylthiourea metal complexes was identified for photonic applications with allylthiourea serving as a double ligand, and II (B) group metals were chosen as a co-ordination metal. This family belongs to an island-type organometallic category. A series of optically negative nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals (ATCC, ATCB, ATMC and ATMB) have been prepared. Their SHG efficiency was an order of magnitude higher than that of the well-known organic crystal, urea. The properties of allylthiourea complex with central atom Cd were compared with the crystals with another central atom Hg. The latter has longer transparency cut-off wavelength, higher thermal stability and SHG efficiencies. These organometalfic tri-allylthiourea complex crystals were grown from the aqueous solution by temperature-lowering technique. Comprehensive studies of synthesis, solubility, crystal growth and the general properties including structural, spectral, optical and thermal properties were analyzed by conducting various characterization techniques. They were synthesized in the de-ionized water and the solubilities of each material were determined by employing thermogravimetric analysis. The growth conditions were analyzed in terms of the pH value of the mother solution because it plays a vital role during the growth. Their structural properties were examined by recording the powder X-ray diffraction pattern. The crystal formation and the metal co-ordination were confirmed by the spectral analysis. The transmission spectrum of these crystals shows a wide transparent UV-vis-NIR band. The thermal behavior of these complexes was studied from the thermal studies. Their NLO efficiencies were analyzed through the Kurt'z technique. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.