Liquid-crystalline pillar[5]arene-based [2]rotaxanes

Liquid-crystalline mechanically interlocked molecules have been prepared from a clickable pillar[5]arene-containing [2]rotaxane building block incorporating ethynylated stoppers and dendritic mesogenic subunits of generation 0, 1 and 2 under copper-catalysed alkyne-azide cycloaddition conditions. The liquid-crystalline properties of the resulting pillar[5]arene-based rotaxanes bearing 4, 8 and 16 peripheral cyanobiphenyl units have been investigated and compared to those of corresponding model compounds lacking the macrocyclic component. [GRAPHICS]

Automated summary

In this study, liquid-crystalline mechanically interlocked molecules were synthesized using a click strategy, and the liquid-crystalline properties of different numbers of peripheral cyanobiphenyl units were investigated.