Structure–activity studies of ferroelectric and antiferroelectric imine ligands and their square-planar complexes

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of the mesomorphic and dielectric properties of a series of new imine-based liquid crystalline compounds that exhibit tilted SmC* phases is reported. The presence of an imino linkage within the mesogenic nucleus of these compounds is significant due to the ability of salicylaldimines to coordinate to metals. Structure–activity studies have also been carried out by varying the structural elements in the ligands. The structural variations include changing the length of the chiral chain and incorporating fluorocarbon segments in the achiral terminal chain.