Homeotropic alignment through charge-transfer-induced columnar mesophase formation in an unsymmetrically substituted triphenylene derivative
2010 ◽
Vol 82
(11)
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pp. 1993-2003
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Keyword(s):
X Ray
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An unsymmetrically substituted triphenylene, with two adjacent chloroethoxyethyl lateral flexible chains, was synthesized and characterized. Although this compound showed no mesomorphic behavior, it formed a donor–acceptor charge-transfer complex with 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone (TNF). The resulting 1:1 complex has been investigated using UV–vis and IR spectroscopy, optical microscopy, thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction. A columnar mesophase with hexagonal symmetry was found. More interestingly, this charge-transfer complex can be easily aligned on a glass surface in a homeotropic orientation, which is stable at room temperature (RT) and over a wide temperature range.