Tris(β-diketonates) lanthanum nematic adducts

Abstract

A series of new liquid-crystalline adducts of lanthanum tris(β-diketonates) displaying nematic and smectic mesomorphism was synthesised and investigated. The temperatures and thermodynamic parameters of the phase transitions were determined. Even–odd alternation of the nematic–isotropic transition was observed in the series of synthesised complexes. It was found that films of the obtained liquid-crystal complexes are vitrified when cooling, and packings of molecules, formed in the mesophase, are retained. Interlayer distances were determined and a model of packing of molecules in the mesophase was suggested based on data obtained by a small-angle X-ray scattering method.

Keywords:

• nematic lanthanidomesogens
• vitrified mesophase
• X-ray diffraction

Acknowledgements

This work was sponsored by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) No. 08-03-00900-а and the Bilateral CRDF – Ministry of Education programme (BRHE, Y5-C07-05).