The object of this invention is to provide a
copolymer with nonlinear
optically active sites capable of forming a crack-free film, a
nonlinear optical material comprising the
copolymer, and an electro-optical element. The
copolymer of this invention is characterized by comprising repeating structural units (A) having adamantyl
alkyl groups and repeating structural units (B) having nonlinear
optically active sites, as represented by formula (1). (Where R...) 1 W represents a
hydrogen atom or a
methyl group. 1 Indicates -O-, -S-, or -NH-, L 1 This indicates a
divalent hydrocarbon group with 1 to 30 carbon atoms that may contain single bonds,
ether bonds, and / or ester bonds, or *-L. 2 -NHC(=O)O- (* indicates W) 1 (bonding end), L 2 Ad represents a
divalent hydrocarbon group with 1 to 30 carbon atoms that may contain
ether bonds and / or ester bonds; Ad represents an adamantyl group that may be substituted by an
alkyl group with 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R represents a
divalent hydrocarbon group that may contain
ether bonds and / or ester bonds. 2 The
alkoxy group represents 1 to 10 carbon atoms bonded to any
carbon atom constituting the adamantyl
alkyl group, where n represents an integer from 1 to 15. (1)