Photoconductive liquid-crystalline derivatives of 6-oxoverdazyl

1,3,5-Triphenyl-6-oxoverdazyl radicals 1[n], in which each phenyl group is substituted with three alkylsulfanyl groups (n = 6, 8, 10), exhibit a monotropic columnar rectangular (Col(r)) phase below 60 °C. Detailed analysis of 1[n] revealed a broad absorption band in the visible region with maxima at 540 and 610 nm and redox potentials E(1/2)(0/+1) = +0.99 V and E(1/2)(0/-1) = -0.45 V vs SCE. Photovoltaic studies of 1[8] demonstrated a hole mobility of 1.52 × 10?3 cm2 V?1 s?1 in the mesophase with an activation energy of 0.06 ± 0.01 eV. Magnetization studies of 1[8] revealed nearly ideal paramagnetic behavior in either the solid or fluid phase above 200 K and weak antiferromagnetic interactions at low temperatures.