Synthesis and mesomorphic behaviour of novel discotic meso‐tetra(3,4,5‐n‐trialkoxybenzoylaminophenyl)porphyrins

Abstract

Novel porphyrin derivatives with twelve flexible alkyl chains, namely meso‐tetra[4‐(3,4,5‐n‐trialkoxybenzoylamino)phenyl]porphyrins (1a, n = 12; 1b, n = 16) and the zinc complex (2a) were synthesized. The mesomorphic properties were investigated by DSC, WAXD and polarizing optical microscopy; the results showed that 1a and 2a exhibit a pseudo‐hexagonal columnar phase, and 1b a rectangular (Col) phase over a wide temperature range including room temperature.

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the National Science Foundation Committee of China (project No. 50373016), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Universities of the China Ministry of Education, and Project 985‐Automotive Engineering of Jilin University for their financial support of this work.