Mesomorphic properties of some 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octa-alkoxymethylphthalocyanines

The mesophase behaviour of a number of non-peripherally octa-substituted phthalocyanine derivatives has been studied by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction. A homologous series of straight chain alkoxymethyl derivatives has exhibited both rectangular and hexagonal columnar mesophases, with the rectangular phases being favoured by the shorter chains. Two branched chain derivatives were found to give rectangular columnar phases at room temperature. A detailed analysis of the X-ray data has shown some differences from the analogous n-alkyl compounds. It has been deduced that the increased polarizability and flexibility of the ether linkage allows the disc-like molecules to approach more closely face to face with correspondingly thicker columns.