Liquid crystalline phthalocyanine–fullerene dyads

Abstract

Two phthalocyanine–C₆₀ dyads 1 and 2 incorporating either a rigid or a flexible spacer between the phthalocyanine and fullerene units, respectively, have been prepared. Indeed, the nature of the spacer has proven to play an important role in the liquid crystalline properties of these compounds. Phthalocyanine–C₆₀ dyad 2, containing a flexible spacer, self-organizes in columnar stacks within a rectangular arrangement. On the other hand, dyad 1 does not present mesomorphic properties on its own, but forms columnar hexagonal mesophases when blended with equimolar amounts of an intrinsically mesomorphic phthalocyanine.