Columnar phases exhibited by some polycatenar ligands and a few related metal complexes

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of some polycatenar ligands which exhibit hexagonal columnar and cubic phases are reported. A pentacatenar with only four phenyl rings in the core and exhibiting a mesophase is also reported. A few copper (II) and palladium (II) complexes have been synthesized using these ligands and the mesomorphic properties exhibited by them are described. The hexagonal columnar phase exhibited by some of the complexes can be cooled down to room temperature. The mesophases have been characterized using a combination of polarized light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction methods.