The unique dimer structure and columnar mesomorphism of BF2 complexes having 3,4,5-trialkoxy-substituted aryl rings

Abstract

We studied mesomorphism of the BF2 complexes having 3,4,5-trialkoxy-substituted aryl rings(alkoxy group: CnH2n+1O n=1, 8, 12, 16) by polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction techniques. As the result, these BF2 complexes of n=8, 12, 16 showed a hexagonal columnar mesophase. Although rod-like molecules like these present complexes cannot form the columnar structure, they form disk-like dimers to enable them show columnar structure.