Achiral banana-shaped mesogenic bidentate ligands and their Cu(II) and Pd(II) complexes

The first achiral bent-core banana-shaped bidentate ligands and their Cu(II) and Pd(II) metal complexes have been synthesized and investigated for mesomorphic behaviour. The bidentate ligands exhibit only one enantiotropic mesophase. The ligand having C 6 -alkoxy chains shows a mesophase that has been assigned as a two-dimensional B 1 phase while the C 8 and C 10 homologues stabilize the fluid B 2 mesophase showing antiferroelectric switching characteristics. In constrast, their corresponding Cu(II) and Pd(II) metal complexes are non-mesomorphic.     

Achiral banana-shaped mesogenic bidentate ligands and their Cu(II) and Pd(II) complexes

The first achiral bent-core banana-shaped bidentate ligands and their Cu(II) and Pd(II) metal complexes have been synthesized and investigated for mesomorphic behaviour. The bidentate ligands exhibit only one enantiotropic mesophase. The ligand having C6 -alkoxy chains shows a mesophase that has been assigned as a two-dimensional B1 phase while the C8 and C10 homologues stabilize the fluid B2 mesophase showing antiferroelectric switching characteristics. In constrast, their corresponding Cu(II) and Pd(II) metal complexes are non-mesomorphic.     

Metallomesogens: Metal Complexes in Organized Fluid Phases

Metallomesogens, metal complexes of organic ligands which exhibit liquid crystalline (mesomorphic) character, combine the variety and range of metal-based coordination chemistry with the extraordinary physical properties exhibited by liquid crystals. Thermotropic metallomesogens have been made incorporating many metals, including representatives of s-, p-, d-and even f-block elements. Both rodlike (calamitic) and disklike (discotic) thermotropic metallomesogens are known, and examples of all the main mesophase types are found. Many different varieties of ligand can be used: monodentate (4-substituted pyridines), bidentate (β-diketonates, dithiolenes, carboxylates, cyclometalated aromatic amines), or polydentate (phthalocyanines, porphyrins). As with organic mesogens, molecular shape and intermolecular forces play an important role, i.e. the ligands are important in determining mesophase character. The chief requirement for a metallomesogen is a rigid core, usually unsaturated and either rod- or disklike in shape, bearing several long hydrocarbon tails. The metal atom is usually at or near the center of gravity of the molecule. In some cases the ligands are themselves mesogenic, but this is not a requirement. The presence of one or more metals opens many exciting possibilities: new shapes, not easily generated by organic compounds, and hence new properties are then accessible. The incorporation of d-block metals brings with it features such as color and paramagnetism. Profound effects arise from the large and polarizable concentration of electron density that every metal atom possesses, since the molecular polarizability is a key factor in determining whether a molecule will form liquid crystals. Enhanced physical properties (e.g. high birefringencies), as well as new and unexpected ones, will result. A major requirement for metallomesogens to find applications in new device technology is that the metal–ligand bonds are strong and inert and the complexes stable; this can be accomplished with, for example, chelating ligands and the 5d metals.     

Columnar mesomorphism from hemi-disklike metallomesogens derived from 2,6-bis[3',4',5'-tri(alkoxy)phenyliminomethyl]pyridines (L): crystal and molecular structures of [M(L)Cl2] (M=Mn,Ni, Zn)

Four new series of non-disklike complexes of general formula [MCl(2)(L(n))] based upon substituted 2,6-bis(3',4',5'-trialkoxyphenyliminomethyl)pyridine ligands (L(n)) and with M=Zn(II), Co(II), Mn(II), and Ni(II) have been prepared and examined for liquid crystallinity. A complete analysis of the thermal behavior by polarized-light optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small-angle Xray scattering revealed a rich and varied mesomorphism. Moreover, the high thermal stability of the compounds leads to rather extended mesomorphic ranges. The nature and thermal stability of each mesophase depend on both the length of the six terminal alkoxy chains, n (n=8, 10, 12, 14, 16), and on the metal ions. As demonstrated by small-angle Xray diffraction experiments, the mesomorphism of these complexes is solely of the columnar type. One compound shows an oblique columnar phase, while most of them show a hexagonal columnar phase, Col(h), and several types of rectangular columnar phase, Col(r). Xray single-crystal structures obtained for three methoxy derivatives confirm the 1:1 metal-ligand stoichiometry of the complexes, in which the metal is pentacoordinate with a distorted, trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The crystalline structures also reveal the existence of some columnar organization in the solid state, the columns resulting from an alternated stacking of the complexes in one direction. By combining these results with those obtained from dilatometry experiments, a model for the molecular organization within the mesophases is proposed in which an antiparallel arrangement of the metallomesogens is retained in the mesophase.     

A convenient protocol for the synthesis of ligands from a 4-methyl-3,5-diacylaminophenyl platform

The synthesis of stable and highly organized phenanthroline, terpyridine, and pyridino-oxazoline ligands bearing one or two 4-methyl-3,5-diacylaminophenyl modules equipped with two lateral dialkoxyphenyl groups has been performed using EDC.HCl and DMAP reagents in the final coupling reaction. Evidently, in the final ligands and in the solid state intermolecular hydrogen bonding maintains the coherence of the tridimensional structure as clearly evidenced by FT-IR and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy in the cases of the methoxy ligands. The supramolecular packing is also maintained by additional pi-pi stacking interactions.     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PALLADIUM COORDINATING IMINE SIDE CHAIN LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYSILOXANES

New thermotropic chloro-bridged dinuclear palladium coordinating imine side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes have been synthesized. Their mesomorphic properties have been investigated by DSC, X-ray diffraction and polarizing microscopy. The polymeric complexes show nematicdiscotic (Nd) mesophase. It is found that the temperature range of liquid crystalline state of chloro- bridged polymeric complexes is much wider than that of acetato- bridged ones and imine side chain polysiloxane. This indicates that the disc-like chloro-bridged palladium complexing units play a role as mesogen in mesophase.     

Supramolecular structures and columnar mesophase induction in nondiscoid pyrazoles by complexation to rhodium(I)

Several new cis-[RhCl(CO)2(Ln)] complexes have been prepared using different polycatenar pyrazole ligands (Ln) in order to obtain columnar liquid crystalline arrangements. The topology of the ligand plays an essential role, and a mesophase is induced at room temperature from a nonmesogenic pyrazole only when it is symmetrically substituted with six decyloxy chains. The single-crystal structure of a methoxy-substituted analogue, 3,5-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)pyrazole, is formed by globular tetrameric structures held together by H-bonding. However, parallel dimers are present in the corresponding cis-chlorodicarbonylrhodium(I) complex, a situation that explains the induction of a columnar mesophase in the decyloxy-substituted complex. The XRD pattern of the mesophase is consistent with a hexagonal symmetry in which the columns are formed by molecules assembled in an antiparallel mode. The crystal-to-mesophase transition was also detected by spectroscopic techniques as a shift in the IR carbonyl stretching bands and the appearance of a charge-transfer band in the absorption spectrum with thermochromic behavior.     

The influence of methoxy side groups and halogen nature on the mesomorphic and optical properties of symmetrical azomethines

The preparation, characterisation, thermotropic and optical properties of low-molecular azomethines with or without methoxy side group are described in this paper. The azomethine compounds were synthesised by condensation reaction of o-dianisidine/benzidine with para-halogen substituted benzaldehyde. Their properties were analysed by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analysis, polarised optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and optical spectroscopy. The azomethines present liquid crystalline behaviour with large mesophase range and high thermal stability. The compounds without lateral methoxy groups showed smectic A phase, while those with methoxy groups exhibited only nematic phase. The effect of methoxy group and different terminal substituents on the mesomorphic behaviour, molecular and optical properties was estimated in terms of parameters such as molecular polarisability, dipole moment, interdigitation parameter and axial ratio.     

Induction of mesomorphism in mixtures of poly[4-(3-methacryloylpropyl)pyridine] with partially fluorinated derivatives of benzoic acid

LC complexes of nonmesomorphic poly[4-(3-methacryloylpropyl)pyridine] with partially fluorinated derivatives of benzoic acid have been prepared via intermolecular hydrogen bonding between complex components. The induction of mesomorphic state has been observed for both mesomorphic and nonmesomorphic acids. It has been shown that the type of a mesophase manifested by the complexes varies from layered to columnar and cubic depending on the number of substituents in a low-molecular-mass component.     

Thermotropic mesomorphism in penta- and hepta-coordinated metal complexes

New Ni(II) and UO₂(II) metallomesogens obtained from mesomorphic N,N'-salicyliden(3,3'-diamine-N-methyldipropylamine) ligands containing a pentadentate N₃O₂ chelating cavity and bearing two or four lateral substituents, are isolated and fully characterized. Some of the synthesized nickel and dioxouranium complexes show a SmC mesophase. To the best of our knowledge, these species are the first pentacoordinated Ni(II) and heptacoordinated UO₂(II) metallomesogens to be reported.     

Photoluminescent nickel(II)-metallomesogens derived from salphen ligands: influence of halogens at the spacer on mesomorphism and emission properties

Three new series of photoluminescent nickel(II) metallomesogens, [NiL]; H₂L = N,N′-Bis(4-n-alkoxysalicylidene)-4-fluoro/bromo/chloro-1,2-diaminobenzene (n = 12, 14, 16) based on ‘salphen’ ligands have been synthesised and their mesomorphic and photophysical properties explored. The complexes, isolated as orange microcrystalline solids were characterised by elemental analyses, FT-IR, ¹H NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy. Thermal studies show all the compounds to be enantiotropic liquid crystals displaying columnar mesophase over a wide temperature range. Electronegativity and steric requirement of the halogen substituent at the ligand’s spacer remarkably influence the 2-D packing of the columns in the lattice in these complexes controlling the supramolecular mesomorphic order and photoluminescence. The mesophase behaviour of the fluoro-substituted complex is characterised by a transition from a columnar oblique (p1) to columnar rectangular (p2mm) phase, former stable till ambient temperature. The chloro and bromo analogues, on the other hand, displayed exclusively columnar rectangular (p2mm) mesophase with the former transforming into a glassy state and latter into a crystalline phase during cooling to ambient temperature. Molecular model based on interdigitated anti-parallel and back to back arrangements in the different columnar mesophase are proposed on the basis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The complexes emit in the blue region when excited with near UV wavelength.     

Discotic liquid crystalline poly(propylene imine) dendrimers based on triphenylene

The design, synthesis, and mesomorphic properties of a new series of homodendrimers consisting of the commercially available poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimers (G = 1-5), PPI-(NH(2))(n)() (n = 4, 8, 16, 32, 64), functionalized with a discotic triphenylene moiety are reported. The liquid crystalline behavior was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing-light optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). All of the homodendrimers showed mesomorphic properties, with the second to fifth generations giving a hexagonal columnar mesophase (Col(h)) and the first generation a rectangular columnar mesophase (Col(r)). The X-ray study reveals that these mesophases show a highly ordered structure with segregation of triphenylenes and dendrimers into separate columns and a regular stacking distance inside the triphenylene columns. GPC analysis showed that the dendrimers had good monodispersity and MALDI-TOF studies of the first three generations gave good evidence that all of the terminal amino groups of the dendrimers were functionalized with a discotic unit.     

Columnar metallomesogens based on vanadyl(VI) and cobalt(II) complexes of N,N'-bis[3-(3,4-dialkoxyphenyl)3-oxopropenyl]ethylenediamines

The preparation, characterization and mesomorphic properties of vanadyl(VI) and cobalt(II) complexes derived from N , N -bis[3-(3,4-dialkoxyphenyl)-3-oxopropenyl]ethylenediamines are described. These half-disk-shaped molecules exhibited columnar mesophases over a wide range of temperature, as characterized by DSC analysis and polarizing optical microscopy. The structure of the mesophases was also confirmed as columnar hexagonal (Col_ho) by powder XRD. The vanadyl complexes were found to have substantially higher clearing temperatures and wider mesophase temperatures than the analogous cobalt complexes. The influence of the metal centres on the mesomorphic temperatures may be attributed to better intermolecular dative association in the vanadyl complexes than in the cobalt complexes.     

Columnar metallomesogens based on vanadyl(VI) and cobalt(II) complexes of N,N'-bis[3-(3,4-dialkoxyphenyl)3-oxopropenyl]ethylenediamines

The preparation, characterization and mesomorphic properties of vanadyl(VI) and cobalt(II) complexes derived from N, N -bis[3-(3,4-dialkoxyphenyl)-3-oxopropenyl]ethylenediamines are described. These half-disk-shaped molecules exhibited columnar mesophases over a wide range of temperature, as characterized by DSC analysis and polarizing optical microscopy. The structure of the mesophases was also confirmed as columnar hexagonal (Col_ho) by powder XRD. The vanadyl complexes were found to have substantially higher clearing temperatures and wider mesophase temperatures than the analogous cobalt complexes. The influence of the metal centres on the mesomorphic temperatures may be attributed to better intermolecular dative association in the vanadyl complexes than in the cobalt complexes.     

Rational shaping of liquid crystalline diacylaminophenyl platforms equipped with chelating fragments,fluorescent dyes,and square planar platinum complexes

Recent investigations from our laboratory have described compelling experimental evidences that the use of a central 4‐methyl‐3,5‐diacylaminophenyl platform functionalized with two lateral aromatic rings each bearing three appended aliphatic chains is well‐suited to produce liquid crystalline materials, some of which carrying at the tips (A‐substitution position) chelating fragments such as phenanthroline, terpyridine, alkynyl functions, crown ethers or highly luminescent subunits such as difluoroboradiazaindacene or cationic platinum‐terpyridine complexes. An important carvet of this research program is that the presence of amide functions likely stabilizes the mesophases by hydrogen bondings. Judicious grafting of polycatenar tails to the platform insures formation of mesomorphic materials over a large temperature range. Careful design of the system by the direct connection of the platform via alkyne bonds to square planar platinum centers give rise to intriguing phosphorescent metallomesogens. © 2009 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 9: 1–23; 2009: Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ) DOI 10.1002/tcr.20164     

Playing with PtII and ZnII Coordination to Obtain Luminescent Metallomesogens

Blue–green luminescent terpyridine-containing Pt^II and Zn^II complexes are reported. Equipped with lipophilic gallate units, which act as monodentate ancillary coordinating ligands and/or as anions, they display low-temperature mesomorphic properties (lamello-columnar and hexagonal mesophases for Pt^II and Zn^II complexes, respectively). The mesomorphic properties were investigated by polarised optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray scattering of bulk materials and oriented thin films. The model of self-assembly into the lamello-columnar phase of the Pt^II complex has been described in detail. The optical properties of the complexes were investigated in the liquid and condensed liquid crystalline states, highlighting the delicate balance between the role of the metal in determining the type of excited state responsible for the emission, and the role of the ancillary ligand in driving intermolecular interactions for proper mesophase formation.     

Mesomorphic self-assembly of 1,3-Diacylaminobenzenes

Some new examples of hydrogen-bonded 1,3-diacylaminobenzene mesogens are presented. This odd type of polymeric self-hydrogen bonded supramolecular association allows a nematic and/or a columnar order to be obtained. Such a mesogenic hydrogen-bonded arrangement (MHB) should be able to stabilize diverse mesomorphic molecular edifices such as layers, columns and tubes.     

Intramolecular hydroamination with homogeneous zinc catalysts: evaluation of substituent effects in N,N'-disubstituted aminotroponiminate zinc complexes

A series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical N,N'-disubstituted aminotroponimines (ATIHs) have been prepared. Substituents ranging from linear to cyclic alkyl groups, chelating ethers, and aryl groups were employed. The corresponding aminotroponiminate zinc complexes were then synthesized and characterized by a number of techniques, including by X-ray crystallography. Herein we report on the investigations into their activity in the intramolecular hydroamination of nonactivated alkenes. We also demonstrate that complexes bearing ligands with cyclic alkyl groups show superior activity in a number of selected reactions with functionalized aminoalkenes.     

Synthesis,Structure and Reactivity of Lanthanocene Complexes

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Coordinatively saturated cyclometallated Pt(IV) azobenzene complexes: synthesis and mesomorphic behaviour

The mesomorphic 4,4-bis[4-n-octyloxybenzoyloxy]azobenzene dinuclear chloro-bridged cycloplatinated complex [(Azo)Pt(mu;-Cl)]2 (smectic C between 263 and 342 C) has been reacted with different chelating ligands, giving rise to a family of square-planar ortho-platinated derivatives, [(Azo)Pt(L)] (L = tropolonate, 8-hydroxyquinolinate and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro2,4-pentanedionate). Thermotropic mesomorphism is preserved for these mononuclear complexes which exhibit at least a nematic mesophase and transition temperatures lower by over 100° C than that of the corresponding dimeric precursor. Oxidative addition to the Pt(II) [(Azo)Pt(L)] species of electrophilic substrates such as I₂ or CH₃I eventually led to the corresponding octahedral [(Azo)Pt(L)(I )(X)] products. The introduction of two further ligands leads to Pt(IV) derivatives showing smectic and nematic mesophases for all L ligands. For the hexacoordinated [(Azo)Pt(L)(I)(CH₃)] complexes it has been verified that the oxidative addition of methyl iodide is a thermally reversible process, indicating that these species have potential applications as switchable systems.