0000000000773322
AUTHOR
Christiane Köhn
Supramolecular order of stilbenoid dendrons: importance of weak interactions
Stilbenoid dendrons with various donor and acceptor groups on the focal unit were synthesised by a Wittig–Horner reaction, starting from an aldehyde functionalised dendron and various substituted phosphonic acid esters. The target molecules are composed of meta-branched arms, two of them with extended conjugation (distyrylbenzene) and three flexible dodecyloxy chains; the focal group consists of a donor or acceptor substituted styryl unit. The cross-conjugation of the arms prevents the strong electronic influence of substituents on the two extended oligophenylenevinylene chromophores. However, intermolecular interactions mediated by the focal unit allow control of the supramolecular stackin…
Shape-persistent V-shaped mesogens—formation of nematic phases with biaxial order
A homologous series of shape-persistent V-shaped molecules has been designed to form the biaxial nematic phase. Phenyleneethynylene moieties are attached to a bent fluorenone unit to create an apex angle of about 90°, which is determined from the single crystal structure. Two mesogens, one symmetric and another unsymmetric, have been synthesized by attaching a cyano group to one or both of the peripheral phenyl units, respectively. These groups introduce local dipoles essential for the formation of the nematic phases. The tendency to form a crystalline phase is reduced by laterally substituted hexyloxy chains which allow the nematic phase to be supercooled to a glassy state. Two of the thre…