Characterization of the first mixed-valent liquid-crystalline materials. Synthesis and structural properties of new binuclear ruthenium carboxylates

The syntheses and structural properties of new binuclear ruthenium (II, III) complexes with long chain carboxylates, of general formula Ru₂(RCO₂)₄X (R = C₈H₁₇, C₁₁H₂₃ and X = C1, RCOO), are reported. The thermodynamic behaviour of these compounds is strongly influenced by the nature of the counterion X. The chloro complexes (X = CI) are not mesomorphic whereas the carboxylato species (X = RCOO) are shown to exhibit a thermotropic columnar mesophase, thus providing the first example of a mixed-valent liquid-crystalline material.