Vibrational studies of some dicopper tetracarboxylates which exhibit a thermotropic columnar mesophase

Abstract

Infrared spectra have been obtained for a series of copper alkanoate dimers which include the caproate (dicopper tetrahexanoate), pelargonate (nonanoate), undecanoate, laurate (dodecanoate), palmitate (hexadecanoate) and docosanoate. Band assignments have been made wherever possible through the use of isotopic substitution, temperature studies and, in part, by Raman spectra. The results indicate that it should be possible to follow phase changes to the respective columnar mesophases of these complexes by monitoring the position of the methylene stretching frequency.