Binuclear Mesogenic Copper(I) Isocyanide Complexes with an Unusual Inorganic Core Formed by Two Tetrahedra Sharing an Edge

Abstract

The preparation of binuclear mesogenic copper(I) isocyanide complexes [CuX(CNR)(2)](2) (X = halogen; R = C(6)H(4)C(6)H(4)OC(10)H(21) (L(A)), C(6)H(4)COOC(6)H(4)OC(n)H(2n+1)((L(B)), C(6)H(2)(3,4,5-OC(n)H(2n+1))(3) (L(C))) with an unusual tetrahedral core is described. The copper complexes with L(A) are not liquid crystals, but the Cu-L(B) complexes show SmA mesophases and the Cu-L(C) derivatives display hexagonal columnar mesophases, some of them at room temperature. The relationship between the molecular structure of the complexes and their thermal behavior is discussed.