Abstract

Six novel octakis(dialkoxyphenoxy)phthalocyaninatocopper(II) complexes (abbreviated as [(C_nO)₂PhO]₈PcCu (n = 9–14)) have been synthesized. It was found that these derivatives exhibit rich mesophases; Col_h, Col_r1, Col_r2, Col_r3, Col_tet and Cub phases. These mesophases were characterized by microscopic observation, DSC measurements and temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction measurements. Temperature-dependent electronic spectra for the thin films of these complexes revealed that roof-top-shaped dimers in the column gradually change into cofacial dimers as the temperature is increased from rt to their clearing points. Furthermore, the phthalocyanine derivatives for n = 11–14 exhibited spontaneous uniform homeotropic alignment for the Col_tet mesophase, which is the first example in discotic liquid crystalline phthalocyanine compounds.