Synthesis and X-ray study of new columnar heteroaromatic salts

The synthesis of 2,4,6-triarylpyrylium tetrafluoroborates substituted by six long alkyloxy chains (n = 8 and 12) is described. These salts exhibit a discotic mesophase from room temperature to 200°C. X-ray diffraction experiments on powder and oriented samples show that this phase is an ordered hexagonal columnar phase, D_ho.