From mesogens to metallomesogens. Synthesis, characterisation, liquid crystal and luminescent properties

ABSTRACT

Continuation with our previous investigation which refers to the synthesis of a series of hydrophobic symmetrical azine compounds: 1,2-bis[4-(n-alkoxy)benzylidene]hydrazine (where, n-alkoxy: O(CH₂)_nH, n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16 or 18), a series of hydrophobic asymmetrical azine compounds: [1-(4-propyloxy)-2-(4ʹ-(n-alkoxy))benzylidene]hydrazine (where, n-alkoxy: O(CH₂)_nH, n = 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16 or 18) was synthesised following an efficient and practical method. These compounds were synthesised by the condensation reaction of hydrazine hydrate with 4-propyloxybenzaldehyde and appropriately 4-(n-alkoxy)benzaldehydes in acidic medium and ambient conditions (very simple way with no need of any sophisticated techniques). Moreover, two new series of silver(I) complexes based on symmetrical or asymmetrical azines have been synthesised (linear-binuclear type complexes with the general formula [Ag₂(L)(NO₃)₂] were obtained). The organic compounds and their silver(I) complexes were characterised using different techniques: microelemental analysis and spectral data (FTIR, UV–Vis, ¹HNMR, ¹³C{¹H}NMR, 2D ¹H-¹H-COSY, 2D ¹H-¹³C-HSQC and mass spectra) as well as molar conductivity measurements for silver(I) complexes. Liquid crystal behaviour of the prepared compounds were studied using polarised light optical microscopy and confirmed with differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction techniques. The studies revealed that all azine compounds and some of silver(I) complexes are liquid crystal materials. The luminescent properties of all the prepared compounds were also investigated which confirmed that all of these compounds are photo-luminescent in the crystalline solid state and in the mesophase.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Mesogens
• metallomesogens
• asymmetrical azines
• photo-luminescent

Acknowledgments

The author is indebted to Arab Science of Technology Foundation (ASTF) for their support and thanks Dr Ivan Hameed R. Tomi, Dr Raghad Al-Salhi, Ali Jasim Hammood and Ahmed Fadhel H. Kased for their help.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.