To evidentiate the role of the nature of sulfonate ancillary ligands on the value of the quadratic hyperpolarizability of Zn(II) complexes with stilbazole-like ligands, the second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of [Zny(2)(4,4'trans-NC5H4CH =CHC6H4NMe2)(2)] complexes (Y = CF3SO3, CH3SO3, or p-CH3C6H4SO3) are investigated. By working at relatively high concentrations (> 3 x 10(-4) M), the positive effect of the triflate ligand remains unique while, with nonfluorinated sulfonate ligands, the second-order NLO response is comparable to that of the related complexes with acetate or trifluoroacetate as ancillary ligands. However, at dilutions higher than 10-4 M, all of the sulfonate complexes reach huge quadratic hyperpolarizabilities because of solvolysis with the formation of cationic species such as [ZnY(4,4'-trans-NC5H4CH=CHC6H4NMe2)(2)](+), characterized by a large second-order NLO response. This view is supported by careful conductivity measurements. The same behavior occurs if 4,4'-trans-NC5H4CH=CHC6H4-NMe2 is substituted by 4,4'- trans, trans-NC5H4(CH=CH)(2)C6H4NMe2.