Thermotropic Liquid Crystals Formed by Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding Interactions

The role of hydrogen bonding in the formation or stabilization of liquid crystalline phases has only recently been appreciated. Following the first, wellestablished examples of liquid crystal formation from the dimerization of aromatic carboxylic acids, through hydrogen bonding, several classes of compounds have recently been synthesized, the liquid crystalline behavior of which is also dependent on intermolecular hydrogen bonds between similar or dissimilar molecules. In this review the main classes of compounds exhibiting liquid crystallinity due to hydrogen bonding are presented to show the diversity of organic compounds that can be used as building elements in liquid crystals. The molecules are either of the rigid-rod anisotropic or amphiphilic types such as molecules appropriately functionalized with pyridyl and carboxyl groups, whose interaction leads to the formation of liquid crystals; amphiphilic carbohydrates and amphiphilic and bolaamphiphilic compounds with multiple hydroxyl groups whose dimerization or association is indispensable for the formation of liquid crystals; and certain amphiphilic carboxylic acids with monomeric or polymeric mesogens and amphiphilic-type compounds bearing different moieties, whose interaction may lead to the formation of mesomorphic compounds. Associated with the macroscopic display of liquid crystalline phases is the supramolecular structure, and therefore rather extended discussion of these structures are included in this review.     

Halogen-Bonded Liquid Crystals

While the halogen bond has been recognised and studied for over a hundred years, it is only in more recent times that chemists have begun to apply it and see its possibilities as another supramolecular interaction that can be deployed in the preparation of materials. This review takes one of those areas, liquid crystals, and considers examples of motifs that have been deployed successfully to generate new mesogens. In particular, rather than attempting to be comprehensive, the article reviews critically data from well-characterised systems and seeks to first make some comparisons with analogous hydrogen-bonded materials, before considering how the lability and flexibility of the halogen bond expresses itself in liquid crystal behaviour.     

Luminescent Metallacycle‐Cored Liquid Crystals Induced by Metal Coordination

Two rhomboidal metallacycles based on metal‐coordination‐driven self‐assembly are presented. Because metal‐coordination interactions restrict the rotation of phenyl groups on tetraphenylethene units, these metallacycles were emissive both in solution and in solid state, and their aggregation‐induced emission properties were well‐retained. Moreover, the rhomboidal metallacyclic structures offer a platform for intermolecular packing beneficial for the formation of liquid crystalline phases. Therefore, although neither of building blocks shows mesogenic properties, both thermotropic and lyotropic (in DMF) mesophases were observed in one of metallacycles, indicating that mesophases could be induced by metal‐coordination interactions. This study not only reveals the mechanism for the formation of cavity‐cored liquid crystals, but also provides a convenient approach to preparing supramolecular luminescent liquid crystals, which will serve as good candidates for chemo sensors and liquid crystal displays.     

含氟液晶研究进展

本文简述了含氟液晶的研究进展。根据小分子含氟液晶中氟原子或含氟基团的位置不同,将其分为3类：末端是氟原子或含氟基团的液晶、苯环上氢原子被氟原子取代的液晶、中心桥键上的氢原子被氟原子取代的液晶。根据小分子含氟液晶特点,归纳了氟原子或含氟基团对液晶分子物理性质的影响。同时对高分子含氟液晶的研究进展也做了介绍。     

基于多重氢键的超分子液晶研究

基于氢键的超分子液晶体系的研究是一个方兴未艾的充满活力的前沿研究领域,它在化学和生物体系中占据非常重要的位置。本文主要介绍了目前文献报道的基于二重以上氢键的超分子液晶体系的研究进展。     

具有分子间氢键的刚性长侧链液晶高分子的合成

主链液晶高分子材料力学性能的各向异性,限制了其作为结构材料的应用和发展^[1].含马来酸酐共聚物(如与乙烯、异丁烯、十八碳烯、苯乙烯和氯乙烯等交替、无规结构共聚物,其中马来酸酐质量分数为5%～50%)是一种耐热性和加工性优良的树脂.     

Electrical and Optical Studies of Hydrogen Bonded Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals Dispersed with MWCNT

Two hydrogen bonded ferroelectric liquid crystals (HBFLC) are dispersed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for achieving better thermal and electrical performance. Interesting feature of the present communication is the enhancement in the enthalpy value pertaining to isotropic-nematic transition in MWCNT doped liquid crystals compare to its pure counter parts. Dielectric relaxations studies are carried out in the pure and the MWCNT doped systems. It is observed that doping of MWCNT elevated the activation energies considerably. Optical shuttering action in one of the complex dispersed with MWCNT are discussed.     

On the Nature of Blueshifting Hydrogen Bonds

The block‐localized wave function (BLW) method can derive the energetic, geometrical, and spectral changes with the deactivation of electron delocalization, and thus provide a unique way to elucidate the origin of improper, blueshifting hydrogen bonds versus proper, redshifting hydrogen bonds. A detailed analysis of the interactions of F₃CH with NH₃ and OH₂ shows that blueshifting is a long‐range phenomenon. Since among the various energy components contributing to hydrogen bonds, only the electrostatic interaction has long‐range characteristics, we conclude that the contraction and blueshifting of a hydrogen bond is largely caused by electrostatic interactions. On the other hand, lengthening and redshifting is primarily due to the short‐range n(Y)→σ*(X?H) hyperconjugation. The competition between these two opposing factors determines the final frequency change direction, for example, redshifting in F₃CH ??? NH₃ and blueshifting in F₃CH ??? OH₂. This mechanism works well in the series F_nCl_3?nCH ??? Y (n=0–3, Y=NH₃, OH₂, SH₂) and other systems. One exception is the complex of water and benzene. We observe the lengthening and redshifting of the O?H bond of water even with the electron transfer between benzene and water completely quenched. A distance‐dependent analysis for this system reveals that the long‐range electrostatic interaction is again responsible for the initial lengthening and redshifting.     

Novel Motif of Hydrogen Bonds in the Water-assisted Supramolecular Self-assembly of 2-acetylamino-6-methylpyridine-N-oxide and Hetero-assembly of 1:1 Co-crystal of o-Phenylenediamine with Catechol

Abstract

Water assisted supramolecular structures of 2-acetylamino-6-methylpyridine-1-oxide (1) and 1:1 complex of o-phenylenediamine with catechol (2) were determined. The crystal structure of 2-acetylamino-6-methylpyridine-1-oxide. H₂O (1), triclinic, a = 7.1276 (6), b = 7.8860 (6), c = 8.9938 (7) Å, α = 100. 143 (2), β = 91.493 (2), γ = 110.972 (1)°, V =462.47 (6) ų, Z = 2, D _calc = 1.323 mg.m^?3(293°K) reveals a novel centrosymmetric supramolecular assembly that is sustained by water molecules linking the dimers of pyridine-1-oxide through C—H…O, N—H…O, N⁺—O^? … H hydrogen bonds. The pyridine rings of the dimers are stacked at 3.473 Å apart, involving π- stacking interactions. Complex (2), C₆H₈N₂.—C₆ H₆O₂. 1/2H₂O crystallises in the monoclinic space group P2/c: a = 9.0498(2), b = 5.2275(1), c = 25.0771(2) A, β = 97.71°, V= 1175.62(4) ų, Z = 4. Refinement led to a final conventional R value of 0.041 for 2016 reflections. In these crystals (2), the water molecules lie on the twofold axis and they are linked to the pyrocatechol molecules through an O—H…O hydrogen bond.     

Variations in Complementary Hydrogen Bonds Direct Assembly Patterns of Isosteric Polyheteroaromatics at Surfaces

Intermolecular interactions guide self-assembly on the surface. Precise control over these interactions by rational design of the molecule should allow fine control over the self-assembly patterns. Functional groups installed for electronic modulation often induce significant changes in the molecular dimensions, thereby disrupting the original assembly pattern. To overcome this challenge, we have employed a family of isosteric phenazine derivatives, DHP , DAP , and DBQD , to investigate the impacts of hydrogen bonding on two-dimensional molecular self-assembly. While these molecules are similar in size and chemical composition, the strength and directionality of hydrogen bonding differ significantly depending on the chemical structure of donor-acceptor pairs and prototropic tautomerization from positional isomerism. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) characterization of the assembled structures on Ag(111), Au(111), and Cu(100) surfaces revealed that minimal changes in molecular structure have a profound impact on the self-assembly patterns. While DHP exhibits highly ordered and robust assemblies, DAP and DBQD show either spatially confined or ill-defined assemblies. In conjunction with hydrogen bonding, prototropic tautomerism is a potent strategy to modulate molecular 2D lattices on surfaces.     

Photo-Controlled Macroscopic Self-Assembly Based on Photo-Switchable Hetero-Complementary Quadruple Hydrogen Bonds

A photo-switchable hetero-complementary quadruple H-bonding array, which consists of an azobenzene-derived ureidopyrimidinone (UPy) module ( Azo-UPy ) and a nonphotoactive diamidonaphthyridine (DAN) derivative ( Napy-1 ), is constructed based on a reversible photo-locking approach. Upon UV (390 nm)/Vis (460 nm) light irradiations, photo-switchable quadruple H-bonded dimerization between Azo-UPy and Napy-1 can be achieved with exhibiting 4.8×10⁴-fold differences in binding strength (ON/OFF ratios). Furthermore, smart polymeric gels with unique photo-controlled macroscopic self-assembly behavior can be fabricated by introducing such quadruple H-bonding array as photo-regulable noncovalent interfacial connections.     

Liquid Photonic Crystals for Mesopore Detection

Nitrogen adsorption–desorption for mesopore characterization requires the using of expensive instrumentation, time‐consuming processes, and the consumption of liquid nitrogen. Herein, a new method is developed to measure the pore parameters through mixing a mesoporous substance with a supersaturated SiO₂ colloidal solution at different temperatures, and subsequent rapid measurement of reflection changes of the precipitated liquid photonic crystals. The pore volumes and diameters of mesoporous silica were measured according to the positive correlation between unit mass reflection change (Δλ/m) and pore volume (V), and the negative correlation between average absorption temperature (T) and pore diameter (D). This new approach may provide an alternative method for fast, convenient and economical characterization of mesoporous materials.     

两个新的氢键诱导液晶化合物的合成

通过４－丁氧基苯甲酸（４ＢＡ０与两个手性取代的苯乙烯基吡啶（ＶＳＺ及ＬＳＺ）间的氢键作用合成了２个新的液晶化合物，用ＤＳＣ、偏光显微镜研究了其液晶行为，并由红外光谱证实了分子间氢键的存在，形成的复合物４ＢＡ－ＶＳＺ具有手性近晶Ｃ相。     

Photo-switchable Fluorescence in Hydrogen-Bonded Liquid Crystals

A series of hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals showing switchable fluorescence is reported. The fluorescence behavior results from the unique combination of hydrogen bonding, liquid crystallinity, and photobasicity. Thus, the molecular mobility in the mesophase is essential for the reversible photo-initiated proton transfer switching on the fluorescence of the assemblies. The application potential of the materials for photo-patterning was demonstrated.     

Self‐Assembly of Azobenzene Derivatives into Organogels and Photoresponsive Liquid Crystals

A new class of coil–rod–coil molecules with an azobenzene core was synthesized. They were found to form robust organogels in several organic solvents. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), FTIR spectroscopy, UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that in these organogels, the molecules self‐assembled into a nanofiber network with an H‐type aggregation mode under the joint effect of π–π stacking, intermolecular hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces. Interestingly, the incorporation of the azobenzene mesogene into the rigid core led to photoisomerizable liquid crystal materials, which exhibited quick responsiveness to light and temperature, along with the trans–cis transition stimulated by UV light and heating.     

Mutual Weakening of Hydrogen Bonds Between Hydrogen Fluoride and Proton Donors

The mutual effect of hydrogen bonds in BHF(HHal) _n complexes (Hal = F, Cl, Br, I; B = –, CH₃CN, NH₃; n = 1-3) was examined using the self-consistent field ab initio approach (6-31++G(d,p) and ECP-HW). When two and three equivalent H bonds are formed from the lone electron pairs of the fluorine atom of the HF molecule, the mutual weakening effect is 17% and 28%, respectively. The coefficients of the mutual effects of hydrogen bonds in HF(HHal)₂ and H₂O(HHal)₂ bridges are close in magnitude.     

含有酯基及酰胺基柔链的苯并菲盘状液晶的合成、分子间氢键对柱状介晶性的影响

合成了三个系列, 共二十四个有两种不同软链的对称和非对称苯并菲盘状液晶化合物, C₁₈H₆(OR)₃- (OCH₂COOEt)₃, C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂COOBu)₃, C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂CONHBu)₃, 其中R＝C₅H₁₁, C₆H₁₃, C₇H₁₅, C₈H₁₇. 化合物通过柱层析纯化, 结构通过¹H NMR, IR, 元素分析等确证. 化合物热稳定性通过TGA测定, 并显示出较高的热稳定性. 通过偏光显微镜和差视扫描量热法对这些化合物的热致液晶性进行了研究. 结果显示: 对于苯并菲液晶化合物C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂COOEt)₃, 非对称性化合物较之对称异构体化合物有更低的熔点和更高的清亮点, 因而非对称性化合物有更宽的介晶温度范围. 对于分子中含有酰胺基的苯并菲液晶化合物C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂CONHBu)₃, 对称化合物有比非对称异构体更高的清亮点和更有序的六方柱状介晶相, 且其与具有同样软链长度的分子中不含酰胺基的化合物系列C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂COOBu)₃相比较, 由于柱内分子间氢键的形成, 不仅有更高的熔点和清亮点, 而且有更丰富的柱状介晶相.