Silver coordination complexes as room-temperature multifunctional materials

A series of bischelate ionic silver complexes [Ag(L*)(2)][X] was prepared by complexation of a newly synthesized 2,2'-bipyridine containing chiral alkoxy chains in the 4,4' positions. The appropriate choice of the construction motifs allows the preparation of new materials in which several functionalities can be introduced. Indeed, when the anion X(-) is a triflate or a dodecylsulfate group, the right combination of intermolecular interactions promotes the production of liquid crystalline mesophases. Therefore, the presence of coordinating anions, which drives the supramolecular assembly, is essential to generate, at the same time, room-temperature columnar hexagonal mesomorphism, the columnar helical supramolecular structure, and excimeric emission.     

Liquid-crystalline coordination polymers based on tetra(alkoxybenzoato)dirhodium(II) complexes axially linked by tetrazine,phenazine and 4,4′-bipyridine

The reaction of dirhodium tetrakis(3,4,5-trialkoxy)benzoates Rh₂(B3OCn)₄ (n = 10, 14, and 18) with three different dinitrogenated axial ligands (L_ax), namely tetrazine (tz), phenazine (phz), and 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy), gave rise to three homologous series of mesogenic coordination polymers, [Rh₂(B3OCn)₄]L_ax. All of them exhibited thermotropic columnar mesophases that were of the hexagonal type for tz and phz and rectangular for bpy. The lighter n = 10 homologs of the three series are liquid crystals (LC) at room temperature. Their mesomorphic properties have been compared with those of the previously studied L_ax = pyrazine series. Models for the supramolecular organization of the three polymeric series in their Col LC phases are proposed on the basis of their structural parameters, as measured by XRD and SAXS. The differences are interpreted in terms of different coordination features of the axial ligands.     

Mesomorphism and Photophysics of Some Metallomesogens Based on Hexasubstituted 2,2′:6′, 2′′‐Terpyridines

The luminescent and mesomorphic properties of a series of metal complexes based on hexacatenar 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridines are investigated using experimental methods and density functional theory (DFT). Two types of ligand are examined, namely 5,5′′‐di(3,4,5‐trialkoxyphenyl)terpyridine with or without a fused cyclopentene ring on each pyridine and their complexes were prepared with the following transition metals: Zn^II, Co^III, Rh^III, Ir^III, Eu^III and Dy^III. The exact geometry of some of these complexes was determined by single X‐ray diffraction. All complexes with long alkyl chains were found to be liquid crystalline, which property was induced on complexation. The liquid‐crystalline behaviour of the complexes was studied by polarising optical microscopy and small‐angle X‐ray diffraction. Some of the transition metal complexes (for example, those with Zn^II and Ir^III) are luminescent in solution, the solid state and the mesophase; their photophysical properties were studied both experimentally and using DFT methods (M06‐2X and B3LYP).     

Accessing Lanthanide-to-Lanthanide Energy Transfer in a Family of Site-Resolved [LnIIILnIII′] Heterodimetallic Complexes

The ligand H₃L (6-[3-oxo-3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)propionyl]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid), which exhibits two different coordination pockets, has been exploited to engender and study energy transfer (ET) in two dinuclear [Ln^IIILn^III′] analogues of interest, [EuYb] and [NdYb]. Their structural and physical properties have been compared with newly synthesised analogues featuring no possible ET ([EuLu], [NdLu], and [GdYb]) and with the corresponding homometallic [EuEu] and [NdNd] analogues, which have been previously reported. Photophysical data suggest that ET between Eu^III and Yb^III does not occur to a significant extent, whereas emission from Yb^III originates from sensitisation of the ligand. In contrast, energy migration seems to be occurring between the two Nd^III centres in [NdNd], as well as in [NdYb], in which Yb^III luminescence is thus, in part, sensitised by ET from Nd. This study shows the versatility of this molecular platform to further the investigation of lanthanide-to-lanthanide ET phenomena in defined molecular systems.     

Synthesis of new monodendrons,gallic acid derivatives,self- assembled in a columnar phase

This article describes the synthesis and liquid crystal properties of new compounds that are derived from gallic acid. All the compounds were characterised by ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR), Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and Elemental analysis (CHN). The mesophases of these compounds were characterised using polarising optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and SAXS measurements. The morphology of the surface of the films was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Compounds 9 and 13, which remain in a supercooled state until room temperature, do not exhibit liquid crystalline behaviour. The other compounds (i.e., 5, 7 and 8) self-assemble into tubular supramolecular architectures generating hexagonal columnar (Col_h) mesophases, which was confirmed by SAXS measurements.     

Advances in Metal‐Free Heterocycle‐Based Columnar Liquid Crystals

Liquid crystals are ordered soft materials formed by self‐organized molecules and can potentially be used as new functional materials for electron‐, ion‐ or molecular‐transport; optical; and bio‐active materials. In particular, the columnar liquid crystals are promising candidates used in various optical and electronic devices. For this purpose, design and synthesis of unconventional materials are essential. In this review, we have summarized several approaches for the synthesis of columnar liquid crystals composed of various heterocyclic systems. We also outline their liquid crystalline and other relevant properties, and their suitability for applications in diverse fields.     

A Small Change in Central Linker Has a Profound Effect in Inducing Columnar Phases of Triazine‐Based Unconventional Dendrimers

Four unconventional triazine‐based dendrimers have been prepared and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Based on DSC studies, polarizing microscopy, and powder XRD, two of these dendrimers, containing linkers with an odd number of carbon atoms, were observed to display columnar liquid–crystalline phases during thermal treatment. However, the other two dendritic analogues, containing linkers with an even number of carbon atoms, were not observed to behave correspondingly. Based on computer simulation, we reasonably assume that the dendrimers with an odd number of carbon atoms in their linkers distort their molecular shape and adopt two isomeric structures due to asymmetrical congestion. This reduces the molecular π–π face‐to‐face interaction, which in turn causes the dendrimers to form columnar LC phases during thermal treatment. However, the dendrimers with an even number of carbon atoms in their linkers have more symmetrical skeletons and do not display any liquid–crystalline phase upon thermal treatment. This new strategy should be applicable for eliciting the columnar liquid–crystalline properties of other types of unconventional dendrimers with rigid frameworks.     

Supermolecular Columnar Liquid‐Crystalline Phosphorus Dendrimers Decorated with Sulfonamide Derivatives

A series of supermolecular liquid crystals has been synthesized by combining phosphorus dendrimers of the zero, first, and fourth generations with sulfonamide derivatives, thus generating dendromesogens bearing 6, 12, and 96 mesogenic units on their surfaces. The relevant reactions could be monitored by ¹H, ¹⁹F, and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopies. The thermal and mesomorphic properties of the products have been studied by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction. All of the new macromolecules prepared in this work have been found to show mesomorphic properties over a wide temperature range; moreover, for all of the compounds, the columnar mesophases observed were maintained or vitrified at room temperature. On increasing the generation of these dendromesogens, mesophases appear at lower temperatures and remain stable over a wider temperature interval. In all cases, on the basis of X‐ray analysis, a cylindrical symmetry of the molecules can be proposed to promote the supramolecular columnar arrangement observed in the mesophases. In this type of model, the height of the dendrimer clearly increases with increasing dendrimer generation, whereas its cross‐ sectional area increases only slightly, probably due to compression of the highly hyperbranched structures as a consequence of their progressive steric constraints. The mesomorphic arrangement is governed by the peripheral sulfonamide units.     

Liquid-crystalline CuII and PdII complexes with nonmesogenic ferrocene-containing β-aminovinyl ketone

New liquid-crystalline heteropolynuclear complexes L₂M (M=Cu²⁺ (2a), Pd²⁺ (2b)) were synthesized by the reactions of C₅H₅FeC₅H₄−C₆H₄NH−C₂H₂−(CO)−C₆H₄OC₁₂H₂₅ (1, LH) with copper(ii) and palladium(ii) acetates. Compound2b was found to possess monotropic nematic and smectic phases;2a exhibits the monotropic nematic phase and a phenomenon of “double melting”. The compositions and structures of compounds1 and2a,b were established by elemental analysis,¹H and¹³C NMR, ESR, and IR spectroscopy. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 381–383, February, 1999.     

Columnar liquid crystalline benzenetrisamides with pendant 1,3,4-oxadiazole groups

Novel liquid crystal materials based on 1,3,5-benzenetrisamide derivatives with three pendant 2-phenyl-5-(mono-, di-, and/or tri-n-alkoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole arms (Ia–c, IIa–c) were prepared. The mesomorphic properties of these compounds were characterised and studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The formation of a columnar mesophase was found to be dependent on the number of alkoxy side chains. The compounds Ib and IIb, with a total of six alkoxy chains, and compounds Ic and IIc, with nine alkoxy chains, exhibited an enantiotropic hexagonal columnar (Col_h ) phase with high isotropisation temperatures; however, compounds Ia and IIa with a total of three alkoxy chains formed a crystalline phase. Compounds IIb and c were room temperature liquid crystals.     

Broad Hexagonal Columnar Mesophases Formation in Bioinspired Transition‐Metal Complexes of Simple Fatty Acid meta‐Octaester Derivatives of meso‐Tetraphenyl Porphyrins

A series of meta‐substituted fatty acid octaester derivatives and their transition‐metal complexes of meso‐ tetraphenyl porphyrins (TPP‐8OOCR, with R=C_n?1H_2n?1, n=8, 12, or 16) have been prepared through very simple synthesis protocols. The thermotropic phase behavior and the liquid crystalline (LC) organization structures of the synthesized porphyrin derivatives were systematically investigated by a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and variable‐temperature small‐angle X‐ray scattering/wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) techniques. The shorter octanoic acid ester substituted porphyrin (C8‐TPP) did not show liquid crystallinity and its metal porphyrins exhibited an uncommon columnar mesophase. The lauric acid octaester (C12‐TPP) and the palmitic acid octaester (C16‐TPP) series porphyrins generated hexagonal columnar mesophase Col_h. Moreover, the metal porphyrins C12‐TPPM and C16‐TPPM with M=Zn, Cu, or Ni, exhibited well‐organized Col_h mesophases of broad LC temperature ranges increasing in the order of TPPNi<TPPCu≤TPPZn with their increased effective ionic radii in the square‐planar coordination. The simplicity in synthesis, the well intercolumnar organization of Col_h mesophase, the broadness of the discotic LC range, and the specific UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence emission behaviors make the symmetrically substituted fatty acid octaester porphyrins and their metal complexes very attractive for variant applications.     

Synthesis and liquid crystal properties of triphenylene liquid crystals bearing polymerisable acrylate and methacrylate groups

The synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of some new triphenylene discotics bearing pendant acrylate groups are described. Mesophase behaviour is found to be sensitive to the number and position of substituents, the linking chain length, and to change between acrylate and methacrylate termini. Investigation of the isomerically pure triphenylene acrylate and methacrylate derivatives showed that the molecular symmetry also has a modest effect on mesophase behaviour. Unsurprisingly columnar phases are formed only when all substituent chains are of comparable length and methacrylates are far superior to simple acrylate termini, probably due to favourable space filling in the mesophase.     

Polyurethanes crosslinked by metals and their complexes with crown ether

Two types of crosslinked polyurethanes (PU) have been synthesized: (a) PU crosslinked by metal ions (Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺), and (b) PU crosslinked by the complexes of metals with crown ether. Using X-ray scattering under small and wide angles the peculiarities of the structure of networks have been investigated. It was found that PU crosslinked by the metal crown ether complexes have a looser structure because of the bulky crosslink and diminished molecular mobility of the chains between two crosslinks, as was proven by the dielectric spectroscopy method. The X-ray and IR data have allowed proposing a scheme of the structure of the crosslinked PU with various types of crosslinks. The structures discovered may be considered as similar to metal catenandes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 1379–1386, 1998