The mesomorphic and photophysical properties of perylene liquid crystals with different bay-rigid spacers

Three novel perylene derivatives were prepared by introducing two phenyl (biphenyl or naphthyl)-bridging cholesterol units on bay positions and six alkyl chains on imides positions. The influences of different bay-bridging spacers on mesomorphic properties and photophysical properties were investigated. They presented the ordered hexagonal columnar liquid crystalline behaviours, although the large aromatic spacers were bridged on the bay positions. The mesomorphic and photophysical properties could be tuned effectively by the structures of spacers on bay positions. The larger and more rigid aromatic spacer on bay positions resulted in higher phase transition temperatures and stronger fluorescence emission.