1. Competition Between Mesogens in Pyridone-based Supramolecular Calamitic, Banana and Discotic Liquid Crystals.
Kurt N. Wiegel, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Eau Claire, WI
Hydrogen Bonded Liquid Crystalline Networks- Polyfunctionalized Networks: A series of supramolecular mesogenic networks with increasing crosslink density inclusion have been created. The netpoints involved in these networks have tetrakis, tris and bis functionalization. The networks and polymers formed display liquid crystalline characteristics at surprisingly high concentrations. Many of these systems seem to produce clearing concentrations based on a statistical correlation of the number of available non-mesogenic pyridine groups.
Hydrogen Bonded Liquid Crystals: In order to continue the study of these supramolecular systems, small molecule mesogens using a monofunctionalized acid, a rigid bis pyridyl and tetrakis, tris and bis pyridyl systems have been made. Even at disruption loadings of 99% of the tetrafunctionalized species, the materials still displayed strong liquid crystalline characteristics. The tris and bis containing systems display similar characteristics, with lower concentrations leading to the disruption of liquid crystallinity.