Synthesis and self-assembly of luminescent hexacatenar molecules incorporating a 4,7-diphenyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole core

Abstract

A new polycatenar liquid crystal containing a 4,7-diphenyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole core and three alkoxy chains at each end has been synthesized via a copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne click reaction and investigated by polarizing microscopy, DSC, XRD scattering, SEM, UV-vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. This compound can self-assemble into an oblique columnar liquid crystalline phase in the bulk state and form organogels in different organic solvents. It shows highly fluorescent emission with large Stokes shift in solution and has binding selectivity to Li⁺ among a series of cations in DMSO–CH₂Cl₂ solution.