Mesogenic discrete metallofoldamer for columnar liquid crystal

Abstract

A mesogenic metallofoldamer [(1_R,R-Ni)₂Pd] exhibits thermotropic columnar liquid crystalline properties. The metallofoldamer was prepared from two homochiral crescent-shaped precursors having β-diketonate ligands (1_R,R-Ni) through bridging by metal complexation; it exhibited a single helicity owing to the overlapping of both ends. The precursor and metallofoldamer formed similar hexagonal columnar phases. The helical metallofoldamer exhibited the hexagonal columnar phase at the higher temperature range owing to its rigid helical mesogenic structure.