A Porphyrin-Based Discrete Tetragonal Prismatic Cage: Host-Guest Complexation and Its Application in Tuning Liquid-Crystalline Behavior

The host-guest complexation between a porphyrin-based 3D tetragonal prism (H) and electron-rich pyrene is investigated. This host-guest molecular recognition is further utilized to suppress the liquid-crystalline behavior of a nematic molecule (G) containing cyanobiphenyl mesogens functionalized with a pyrenyl unit. Furthermore, coronene, with an increased number of π-electrons, is used as a competitive guest to recover the liquid-crystalline behavior of G. This supramolecular approach provides a glimpse of the new possibilities to modulate the structures of the mesophases.