Synthesis and self-assembly of bent core polycatenar mesogens with binding selectivity to Hg2+

Abstract

Bent core polycatenar mesogens, consisting of a methylene central core and two 1,2,3-triazole dendronic wings, have been synthesized via a copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne click reaction and investigated by polarizing microscopy, DSC, XRD scattering, SEM and photoluminescence measurements. All these compounds can self-assemble into thermotropic micellar liquid crystalline phases in the bulk state and form organogels in various organic solvents. They also show binding selectivity to Hg²⁺ among a series of cations in CH₃CN–CH₂Cl₂ solution.