A columnar mesophase with high lateral order from a triphenylene-hexa(3,5-dialkoxy)benzoate

Abstract

This paper describes the synthesis of triphenylene-2,3,6,7,10,11-hexayl hexakis(3,5-dialkoxy)benzoates, bearing hexyloxy (1a) and dodecyloxy tails (1b). These benzoate esters were synthesised in high yields by employing a DCC coupling of the (3,5-dialkoxy) benzoic acid to 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene. The 3,5-dihexyloxy benzoate 1a, forms a highly ordered columnar mesophase with extensive lateral and very limited columnar order, whereas no mesomorphic phases were observed for the 3,5-didodecyloxy benzoate 1b. In contrast with most benzoate esters of triphenylene, nematic mesophases were not observed for 1.

Keywords:

• discotic liquid crystals
• triphenylene
• benzoate esters