Mesomorphic di- and tetra-fluorinated imines and their complexes with ReI

Abstract

The synthesis of some di- and tetra-fluoro imine mesogens is described and their mesomorphism is compared with that of the parent, unfluorinated materials. The comparison reveals that in the fluorinated compounds, more ordered smectic phases were suppressed and crystal phases were destabilised; nematic phases were uniformly destabilised. The imines were then reacted with [ReMe(CO)₅ ] to give related orthometallated complexes which were also mesomorphic.