Supramolecular liquid crystals displaying competitive hydrogen bonding: Small molecule mesogens assembled through different hydrogen bond assemblies

A series of supramolecular assemblies created through competitive hydrogen bonding of a n-alkoxy benzoic acid hydrogen bond donor and a mixture of hydrogen bond acceptors: a liquid crystal-forming rigid bi-pyridyl and a non-mesogenic tetrafunctional pyridyl species. The associative chain structures displayed mesogenic characteristics at loadings dependent on the concentration of the disruptive tetrafunctional agent- systems eliminated liquid crystallinity at 85% inclusion in heating transitions and 90% in cooling. The assembled structures displayed considerable mesophase stability. This was observed through long liquid crystalline lifetimes even at high compositions of 4PD, which generally dampened due to a generalized eutectic effect. It is believed that the freedom of mobility inherent in the C8 Acid allows for the reorganization of the hydrogen bonds in the liquid crystalline state providing for a very high loading of disruptor and long mesophase lifetimes.