Complexation of Transition Metal Ions with Substituted Aza Macrocycles: Induction of Columnar Mesophases by Molecular Recognition

Abstract

The influence of molecule dynamics on the phase properties is evident in the polyaza macrocycle 1 and the corresponding amide (CO in place of CH2 groups). The amide, but not 1, forms a columnar discotic mesophase, because of the restricted rotation of the side groups, which results from the partial double bond character of the exocyclic CN bond. Compound 1 needs to be coordinated, for example to cobalt ions, to fix its conformation and thus to induce a liquid crystalline phase. The preliminary susceptibility measurements on an analogous copper complex suggests an electronic coupling between the metal ions.