Ionic discotic liquid crystals: synthesis and characterization of pyridinium bromides containing a triphenylene core

Five novel pyridinium salts tethered with hexaalkoxytriphenylene molecules were synthesized by the quaternization of pyridine with ω-bromo-substituted triphenylene derivatives. Their chemical structures were determined by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, UV spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of these salts were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. These triphenylene-based pyridinium salts with bromide as counterion were found to be mesomorphic over a wide temperature range.     

Novel discotic liquid crystal oligomers: 1,3,5-triazine-based triphenylene dimer and trimer with wide mesophase

Series of novel 1,3,5-triazine-based triphenylene oligomers 7, 10 and 12 with large bridging polyaromatic core were designed and synthesised by simple procedures in high yields. Their structures were confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ESI-MS and elemental analyses. Their mesomorphic behaviours were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. 1,3,5-triazine-based triphenylene monomer 7 has no mesomorphic property, but 1,3,5-triazine-based triphenylene dimer 10 and 1,3,5-triazine-based triphenylene trimer 12 possess excellent mesomorphic properties. The mesomorphic temperature range of compound 12 was as wide as 180°C. These studies indicated that the mesomorphic properties were determined by the numbers of triphenylene units. More units of triphenylene in the oligomers resulted in better mesomorphic properties.     

Room temperature liquid crystal of symmetric gallic trimer containing cyanuric core: synthesis and mesomorphism

Three novel gallic monomer 7, dimer 10 and trimer 12 with conjugated cyanuric core were designed and synthesised by Schiff-base condensation mode in yields of 80–90%. Their structures were characterised by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and elemental analyses. Their mesomorphic behaviours were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The gallic monomer 7 has no mesomorphic property, but the dimer 10 and trimer 12 possess good mesomorphic properties. The trimer 12 with high symmetry exhibited the typical hexagonal columnar liquid crystal at room temperature. The temperature range of mesophase is as wide as 149°C (14–163°C). The results suggested that the more gallic units and symmetric structures are favourable for excellent mesomorphic properties.     

含均三嗪结构甲氧基丙烯酸酯化合物的合成及抑菌活性研究

采用亲核取代和消除反应,合成了7个含均三嗪结构的新型甲氧基丙烯酸酯化合物,目标化合物的结构经IR、1H NMR、HRMS进行表征。对目标化合物进行了真菌抑制活性实验,结果表明在50ug·m L-1浓度下,4个目标化合物表现出一定的真菌抑制活性。     

Polar smectic phases in quasi-bent-core liquid crystals with hockey-stick-shaped mesogen: synthesis and crossover mesomorphism

ABSTRACT

New hockey-stick-shaped liquid crystals (HSLCs) have been designed and synthesised. By extreme shortening of one ‘arm’ in the HSLCs, we have constructed the pronounced overall hockey-stick-shaped molecular conformation of these materials, and called the pseudo-rod-like (PRL) molecules with hockey-stick-shaped mesogen. The chemical structures were identified using spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The mesomorphic behaviour was investigated by polarising optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and via electro-optical experiments. As a result, in spite of the PRL molecules, the various mesomorphic polymorphism, the interdigitated bi-layered structure and macroscopic polarity were found. Similar to up-to-date HSLCs, the quasi-bent-core LCs showed a transition from the synclinic SmC phase (SmC_s) to anticlinic SmC (SmC_a) phase, and exhibited SmA-type (N_CybA) and SmC-type (N_CybC) cybotactic nematic phases. At the same time, similar to practical rod-like LCs, the PRL molecules showed good surface alignment behaviour under planar boundary conditions.     

First examples of monodisperse discotic liquid crystal pentamers: synthesis and mesomorphism

The synthesis and mesomorphism of the first examples of ‘discotic liquid crystal pentamers’ are reported. Structural characterization of these difunctional pentamers has been achieved by FTIR, NMR, and elemental analysis. The mesophase behavior exhibited by these ‘star-shaped’ molecules has been studied by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The columnar hexagonal structure of the mesophase was established with the help of X-ray diffraction studies.     

Novel smectic liquid crystals based on benzo[c]cinnoline: their synthesis,mesomorphism, opto- and electro-chemical properties

A series of novel calamatic liquid crystals based on a polar benzo[c]cinnoline moiety were efficiently prepared through a facile route. Rich smectic mesophases were induced by the monoalkylated and dialkylated molecular design, including highly ordered smectic mesophases in the rectangular and hexagonal orders. Dialkylated phenylbenzocinnoline derivatives showed a very wide temperature range over 150°C for smectic C (SmC) phase, while the monoalkylated ones only presented the low-ordered mesophases, which exhibited a bilayer structure in crystalline phase. From pronounced reversible redox waves in a cyclic voltammogram and low-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of about ?3.2 eV indicated possible electron-transporting behaviour. In addition, a switching behaviour originating from ferroelectricity in SmC* induced by chiral dopant was observed.     

Multiple BODIPY derivatives with 1,3,5-triazine as core: balance between fluorescence and numbers of BODIPY units

The multiple BODIPY derivatives could exhibit higher fluorescence than mono-BODIPY derivatives but also might produce the stronger aggregation-induced quenching effect. It is important to investigate the relationship between fluorescence and numbers of BODIPY units. In this work, series of multiple BODIPY derivatives 2–5 with 1,3,5-triazine as core were designed and synthesized in high yields. A subtle balance between the fluorescence enhancement of multiple BODIPY units and fluorescence quenching based on H-aggregation of multiple BODIPY units was observed for these multiple BODIPY derivatives. Compound 3 bearing two BODIPY units with triazine as core presented the strongest fluorescence emission and highest fluorescence quantum yield. Compound 3 was successfully applied in viscosity measurement, exhibiting the linear relationship between fluorescence intensity (or steady-state emission anisotropy) and viscosity.     

官能化苯并菲盘状液晶的合成及不饱柔链对介晶性的影响

合成了12个含不饱和软链的苯并菲盘状液晶化合物,C18H6（OC5H11）6-x（OR）x（x=1,2,3）,R=-C3H6CH=CH2（a）,-C3H6C≡CH（b）,-C2H4OCH=CH2（c）.化合物结构通过核磁共振氢谱和高分辨质谱表征.化合物热致液晶性通过偏光显微镜（POM）,差视扫描热量法（DSC）,和X射线衍射（XRD）进行了研究.结果显示目标化合物呈现有序的六方柱状介晶相.端炔基链化合物b系列熔点最高.乙烯氧基柔链化合物c系列有最高的清亮点和最宽的介晶性温度范围,且随着不饱和醚链数的增多,清亮点明显升高.对称苯并菲化合物sym-C18H6（OC5H11）3（OR）3比不对称化合物asym-C18H6（OC5H11）3（OR）3具有更高的熔点和清亮点.乙烯氧基柔链可极化的偶极相互作用对液晶稳定性有较大贡献.     

Synthesis,complexation, and mesomorphism of novel calixarene-linked discotic triphenylene based on click chemistry

The novel calixarene-linked discotic triphenylene 5a and 5b were synthesized in good yields via click chemistry. Structural and conformational characterization of new compounds had been achieved by NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. Their liquid crystalline behaviors before and after complexation were studied by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. The neat compounds 5a and 5b showed mesophase but the complexes of 5a and 5b with metallic salts exhibited no liquid crystal behaviors.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel imidazolium-based ionic discotic liquid crystals with a triphenylene moiety

Two novel triphenylene-tethered imidazolium salts were synthesized either by the quaternization of 1-methylimidazole with an ω-bromo-substituted triphenylene or by the quaternization of a triphenylene-substituted imidazole with methyl iodide. Their chemical structures were determined by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, UV spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of these salts were investigated by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. These triphenylene-based imidazolium salts with bromide or iodide as counterion show columnar mesophase properties over a wide temperature range.     

Computational insight into energetic cage derivatives based on hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine

Four novel cage compounds were designed by introducing –N(NO₂)CH₂–, –N(NO₂)O–, –N(NO₂)N(NO₂)–, and –N=N– linkages into the RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) skeleton. Their molecular geometry, electronic structure, heat of formation, and detonation properties were systematically studied using density functional theory (DFT). In addition, the most stable dimers of the four compounds were constructed to further investigate their stability based on intermolecular interactions. It is found that the unconventional CH⋯O interactions would be the dominant driving force when the title compounds form crystals. Compared with the traditional explosives, the compounds with higher detonation properties and lower impact sensitivity will be considered as promising candidates for high energy density compounds. Our results indicate that our innovative design strategy is extremely useful for developing novel energetic compounds.     

Liquid crystalline oligomers derived from cholesterol: synthesis and columnar mesomorphism

The novel columnar liquid crystals based on symmetric hairpin-shaped cholesterol tetramers bridged by rigid or hydrogen-bonding Schiff-base spacers were prepared by reacting cholesterol dimer with phenylenediamines or dihydrazides in yields of 70–85%. Structural characterisation of these new compounds had been achieved by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Their mesomorphic properties were investigated by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. They exhibited good hexagonal columnar mesophase with three molecules in a disc of the columnar hexagonal state. This study implied that the symmetric cholesterol tetramers with rigid cores or hydrogen-bonding cores prefer to columnar mesophase.     

The novel rufigallol-based liquid crystals with cholesterol units: synthesis,mesomorphic and photophysical properties

Three novel rufigallol derivatives with four alkyl chains and two cholesteric units 6a, 6b and 6c were prepared in yields of 83–88%. The mesomorphic properties were investigated by DSC, POM and XRD analysis, suggesting that compounds 6a, 6b and 6c possess the ordered hexagonal columnar mesophase. The long alkyl chains contribute to the low phase transition temperature. Sample 6c with four dodecyl chains and two cholesterol units is a room temperature liquid crystal between 31°C and 87°C. Compounds 6a, 6b and 6c also have good fluorescence emission between 400 nm and 500 nm. The studies on CD spectra implied that the chiralities of cholesterol moieties are successfully transferred to the liquid crystalline core. Samples 6a, 6b and 6c are the first fluorescence liquid crystal based on rufigallol core with chiral cholesterol units.     

Microwave assisted synthesis,docking and antimalarial evaluation of hybrid PABA-substituted 1,3,5-triazine derivatives

A series of novel PABA-substituted 1,3,5-triazine derivatives were developed via microwave assisted synthesis and subsequently tested for antimalarial activity against chloroquine sensitive 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum using chloroquine as standard. Antimalarial screening result showed that synthesized compounds exhibited IC₅₀ in the range of 4.46 to 79.72 μg mL⁻¹. Among the tested compounds, 4c and 4f showed significant antimalarial activity with low binding energies (BE) -172.32 and 160.41 kcal mol⁻¹ via interacting with Arg122 through the involvement of COOH of the phenyl linked to 1,3,5-triazine. In conclusion, these core scaffolds can be used for future antimalarial drug development.     

Synthesis and mesomorphism of mixed ether-ester tail triphenylene discotic liquid crystals with long alkyloxy peripheral chains

Symmetrical and asymmetrical triphenylene discotic liquid crystals with two kinds of different peripheral chains, sym-TP(OC₁₁H₂₃)₃(O₂CR)₃ and asym-TP(OC₁₁H₂₃)₃(O₂CR)₃, (R=CH₂OC₂H₅, CH₂OC₃H₇, CH₂OC₄H₉, CH₂OC₅H₁₁, C₃H₇, C₄H₉, C₅H₁₁, C₆H₁₃, C₇H₁₅) were synthesized. Their thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were studied by polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that the asymmetrical compounds had higher melting and clearing points than that of their corresponding symmetrical compounds. For the same series of compounds, TP(OC₁₁H₂₃)₃(O₂CR)₃, their melting points decrease and clearing points increase gradually with the lengthening of ester chains. Most of the β-oxygen containing esters of triphenylene derivatives, TP (OC₁₁H₂₃)₃(O₂CR)₃, (R=CH₂OC₂H₅, CH₂OC₃H₇, CH₂OC₄H₉, CH₂OC₅H₁₁), symmetrically or asymmetrically attached on triphenylene cores, have higher melting and clearing points than those of triphenylene derivatives, TP(OC₁₁H₂₃)₃(O₂CR)₃, (R=C₄H₉, C₅H₁₁, C₆H₁₃, C₇H₁₅), with the same length of peripheral chains. The triphenylene derivatives with longer peripheral chains have shown mesophase at room temperature. __________ Translated from Chemical Research and Application, 2007, 19(10) (in Chinese)     

Design,synthesis, anticancer,antibacterial, and antifungal evaluation of 4-aminoquinoline-1,3,5-triazine derivatives

A series of 4-aminoquinoline 1,3,5-triazine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for anticancer activity against cancer cell lines HeLa, MCF-7, HL-60, HepG2 where these derivatives exert significant anticancer activity. The molecules found nontoxic against MCF-12A. The molecules also showed potent inhibition of EGFR-TK as compared to eroltinib in enzyme-based assay. The newly synthesized derivatives were screened for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus using cefixime and fluconazole as standard. Antibacterial screening results suggest that compound 7c showed potent activity against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and P. vulgaris. In antifungal screening, compound 7b showed significant activity against A. niger, A. fumigatus and moderate activity against C. albicans.     

New polycatenar Schiff bases derived from 1,3,4-thiadiazole: synthesis,mesomorphism and luminescence behaviour

Two new series of columnar liquid crystal materials based on tetra- and hexacatenar Schiff bases were synthesised by reaction of 4-aminophenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives with terephthalaldehyde (series 2a–f) and with 2,5-thiophenedicarbaldehyde (series 3a–f). The mesomorphic properties of these compounds were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarised optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mesomorphic behaviour was found to be dependent on the nature of the central ring (benzene in series 2a–f, thiophene in series 3a–f), on length and on number of alkoxy chains. Both tetra- and hexacatenar compounds in series 2a–f display an enantiotropic hexagonal columnar phase. Whereas, in the case of the series 3, only the tetracatenar Schiff bases (3a, 3c and 3e) display enantiotropic hexagonal columnar mesomorphism, hexacatenar Schiff bases (3b, 3d and 3f) do not show mesomorphic properties. Photophysical studies were realised in solution and in solid state. Also, a thermogravimetric analysis was performed. A fibre obtained from compound 3b was analysed by POM showing that the mesophase is maintained in the fibre.     

Novel near-infrared fluorescent liquid crystal: Bodipy bearing multiple alkyl chains with columnar mesophase

By the typical Knoevenagel condensation of Bodipy with aldehyde derivatives, two novel Bodipy derivatives 3 and 6 with symmetric three and six alkyl chains were designed and prepared. The Bodipy derivative 3 with three alkyl chains showed no mesophase but the Bodipy derivative 6 with six alkyl chains possessed the orderly hexagonal columnar mesophase at room temperature. Both samples 3 and 6 exhibited the near-infrared fluorescence with high fluorescence quantum yields and larger Stokes shifts than their Bodipy precursors. Sample 6 was the first near-infrared fluorescent columnar liquid crystal with Bodipy core. This research presented a good strategy on constructing the near-infrared columnar Bodipy liquid crystal.