Mesogenic Enaminoketone Ni(II) Complexes of Phenazine and Quinoxaline Derivatives

The new Ni(II) metallomesogenes were synthesized. Their mesogenic cores are constructed from tetradental enaminoketone unit connected to 1,2: 3,4-di(4,5-dioctyloxybenzo) phenazine or 2,3-di(3,4-dioctyloxyphenylo) quinoxaline. The described compounds form columnar hexagonal phase (Col(hd)) in very broad temperature range. The high stability of the columnar phase results from presence of a permanent dipol moment in enaminoketone moieties created by strong electron withdrawing properties of carbonyl groups.