[GRAPHICS]Novel D-pi -A chromophores based on the fulvene accepting moiety and p-dimethylamino phenyl and 1,3-dithiole-2-ylidene donor moieties have been prepared. The X-ray structures of two representative derivatives have been determined. Examination of the UV-visible spectra and cyclic voltamperometry data revealed remarkable sensitivity of the electronic structure of these derivatives to substituents at the cyclopentadiene ring.