Synthesis and liquid crystal properties of dinuclear cyclopalladated 5-alkyl-2-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)pyrimidine and 3-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-6-alkoxypyridazine complexes

The dinuclear cyclopalladated complexes [Pd(L₁ or L₂)(µ-X)]₂ (HL₁=5-alkyl-2-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)pyrimidine, HL₂=3-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)-6-alkoxypyridazine, X=Cl^-, CH₂ClCOO^-, CH₂BrCOO^-, CH₃CHBrCOO^-, CH₂BrCH₂COO^-, CH₃COO^-) have been synthesized and characterized; their mesogenic properities were determined by DSC and polarizing microscopy. The effect of the bulk and the polarity of the bridging ligands on their mesogenic properties is discussed. The effect of the length of the alkyl chains on the mesogenic properties of these organometallic complexes has also been investigated.