Synthesis and liquid-crystalline behaviour of Ni(II) and Zn(II) phthalocyanines with peripheral monoazacrown ethers

The synthesis of metallo derivatives (Ni, Zn) of phthalocyanines obtained from a 4,5-dicyanobenzomonoazacrown ether substituted with a long alkoxyphenyl chain (5a, 5b) are described. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR and electronic spectroscopy, and mass spectra. The thermal stabilities of the pc compounds were determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The mesogenic properties of these new materials were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction patterns of the mesophases. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.