Liquid Crystalline Properties and Structures of Four-coordinated Cu(II) Complexes with Salicylidenecyclohexylamine

Abstract

Copper(II) complexes with Schiff base ligands containing cyclohexylamino group (Hbsnchex or HbsnMechex: n=2~12) were synthesized. The liquid crystalline phase behavior of the Cu(II) complexes was studied by polarization observation and by differential scanning calorimetry. In Cu(bsnMechex)₂ (n=4~12), a nematic phase was observed, but in Cu(bsnchex)₂ (n=6~8), a smectic C phase was observed only on cooling from the isotropic phase. Molecular structures of the Cu(II) complexes in crystalline phase were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Cu(bs8chex)₂ and Cu(bs8Mechex)₂ have square planar and distorted square planar geometry, respectivity.