Converting Nonliquid Crystals into Liquid Crystals by N-Methylation in the Central Linker of Triazine-Based Dendrimers.

Two triazine-based dendrimers were successfully prepared in 60-75% yields. These newly prepared dendrimers 2a and 2b containing the -NMe(CH2)2NMe- and the -NMe(CH2)4NMe- linkers between two G3 dendrons, respectively, exhibit columnar phases during the thermal process. However, the corresponding dendrimers 1a and 1b containing the -NH(CH2)2NH- and the -NH(CH2)4NH- linkers between two G3 dendrons, respectively, do not show any LC phases on thermal treatment. Computational investigations on molecular conformations reveal that N-methylation of the dendritic central linker leads dendrimers to possess more isomeric conformations and thus successfully converts non-LC dendrimers (1a and 1b) into LC dendrimers (2a and 2b).

An Unconventional Approach to Induce Liquid-Crystalline Phases of Triazine-Based Dendrons by Breaking Their Self-Assembly into Dimers.

Three triazine-based dendrons (1 a-c) were successfully prepared in 70-83 % yields. These newly prepared dendrons are found to be liquid crystalline (LC). Computational investigations on molecular conformations and dipoles of triazine-based dendrons reveal that the substituent on the central triazine unit interrupts strong dipole or H-bond interactions to avoid dimeric formation. The obtained dendrons, not favouring self-assembly into dimers but showing LC behaviours, provides evidence for an approach contrary to the conventional method of inducing LC behaviours of dendrons by dimer or trimer formation, mostly through H-bond interactions.

A small change in central linker has a profound effect in inducing columnar phases of triazine-based unconventional dendrimers.

Four unconventional triazine-based dendrimers have been prepared and characterized by (1) H and (13) C NMR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Based on DSC studies, polarizing microscopy, and powder XRD, two of these dendrimers, containing linkers with an odd number of carbon atoms, were observed to display columnar liquid-crystalline phases during thermal treatment. However, the other two dendritic analogues, containing linkers with an even number of carbon atoms, were not observed to behave correspondingly. Based on computer simulation, we reasonably assume that the dendrimers with an odd number of carbon atoms in their linkers distort their molecular shape and adopt two isomeric structures due to asymmetrical congestion. This reduces the molecular π-π face-to-face interaction, which in turn causes the dendrimers to form columnar LC phases during thermal treatment. However, the dendrimers with an even number of carbon atoms in their linkers have more symmetrical skeletons and do not display any liquid-crystalline phase upon thermal treatment. This new strategy should be applicable for eliciting the columnar liquid-crystalline properties of other types of unconventional dendrimers with rigid frameworks.