THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLAR DISCOTIC METALLOMESOGENS VANADYL 1,3-DIKETONATE COMPLEXES

The dependence of mesomorphism of 1,3-diketonate vanadium-oxo (vanadyl) complexes on the number of side chains was investigated. These complexes have a large dipole normal to the disc plane and are under investigation in an effort to generate discotic phases with polar order. Relatively complex phase behaviour is observed when the vanadyl 1,3-diketonate complexes are appended with four phenyl groups with two octyloxy or decyloxy side chains each for a total of eight side chains. These complexities are most likely related to the order/disorder associated with the polar vanadyl group. Vanadyl 1,3-diketonate complexes with four side chains were prepared by replacement of two of the phenyl groups with methyl or trifluoromethyl groups, and these complexes displayed only crystal phases. Complexes with two trialkyloxy phenyls and two dialkyloxy phenyls were synthesized and found to display a very stable D(hd) phase. The presence of additional alkyloxy groups was found also to promote a linear chain structure, (i.e. --V=O--V=O--), in the crystal phase.