Metallomesogens with Branched, Dendrimeric Amino Ligands

Abstract

Trigonal-bipyramidal and octahedral coordination is found in transition metal complexes 1 and 2 (M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; X = Cl, NO3, NCS (or SCN)) with dendrimeric ethyleneimine ligands of the first (1 = H; R2 = CH2-3,4-C6H3[O(CH2)9CH3]2) and second generation (R1 = R2 = CH2CH2NHCO-3,4-C6H3[O(CH2)9CH3]2). These complexes form a novel class of metallomesogens. With a second generation dendrimer as the ligand or with ZnII as the central atom, a hexagonal-columnar phase is formed. Otherwise, lamellar mesophases are obtained.