| Abstract: | Rare-earth complexes of mesomorphic Schiff 's bases, 4-(alkylimino)methyl]-3-hydroxyphenyl 4-alkyloxybenzoates, were synthesized. Whereas the ligands LH display a nematic and/or a smectic C phase, the metal complexes show a viscous smectic A phase and decompose at the clearing point. The mesophase was investigated by hot-stage polarizing optical microscopy, by differential scanning calorimetry and by high temperature X-ray diffraction. Two types of complex were found, Ln(LH)3 (NO3)3] and Ln(LH)2L(NO3)2], depending on the ligand or the central metal ion. The first coordination sphere of the rare-earth ion in these metallomesogens is comparable to that in the structure of complexes with 4-alkoxy-N-alkyl2-hydroxybenzaldimine ligands. |
