Synthesis, characterization and liquid crystalline properties of (μ-oxo)bis[meso-tetrakis(4-alkoxyphenyl)porphyrin iron(III)]

A series of novel (mu-oxo)bis[meso-tetrakis(4-alkoxyphenyl)porphyrin iron (111)] were synthesized. Molecular structures of all synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, UV, H-1 NMR, MS and elemental analysis. Differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscope (PM) were used to probe the liquid crystal properties of the serial compounds. Nine compounds were found to exhibit liquid crystal (LC) properties. Most of them were enantiotropic liquid crystals. Under PM, the LC texture was observed and filamentary optical one was displayed. The effects of alkoxy chains, metal ions of complexes and molecular space structure on liquid crystal properties have been investigated.