TRANSITION-METALS COMPLEXED TO ORDERED MESOPHASES .9. SYNTHESIS, MESOMORPHIC BEHAVIOR, AND EPR INVESTIGATIONS ON A HOMOLOGOUS SERIES OF N-(4-ALKOXYSALICYLIDENE)-4'-ALKYLANILINES COMPLEXED TO COPPER(II)

The synthesis, mesomorphic properties, and EPR characterization of a homologous series of N-(4-(dodecyloxy)salicylidene)-4'-alkylanilines complexed to copper(II) are reported. These copper mesogens are microcrystalline solids at room temperature that upon heating or cooling down from the isotropic liquid display at least a smectic A phase. The EPR spectra, recorded at room temperature and after heating the samples to the clearing points, give results that are in agreement with the molecular packings previously proposed on the basis of X-ray investigations and shows that the smectic A phase gives rise to a peculiar EPR line shape.