Supramolecular organization of dendritic supermolecules into liquid crystalline mesophases

Abstract: In this manuscript, a complete and comprehensive study on main-chain liquid crystalline dendrimers is reported. In order to be able to finely tune, and thus control, the mesomorphism of such multicomponent supermolecules, various structural parameters were systematically modified, such as the core nature and connectivity, the degree and topology of branching, the molecular architecture, the generation, and the chain substitution pattern of the peripherally grafted pro-mesogenic groups. The increase of the molecular complexity and the effects of the structural manipulations proved to be very interesting for the design of multifunctional molecular materials, and provided new types of mesophases, enlarging as such the diversity of liquid crystalline supramolecular organizations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]