Synthesis and supramolecular chemistry of novel liquid crystalline crown ether-substituted phthalocyanines: toward molecular wires and molecular ionoelectronics

Metal-free and dihydroxysilicon derivatives of liquid crystalline tetrakis(4',5'-bisdecoxy-benzo-18-crown-6)phthalocyanine are prepared which is liquid crystalline and in chloroform accumulate to yield a gel. In the gel, the network fibers are made up of parallel strands of supermolecules and formed through self-assembly of about 10 to the fourth power molecules. The strands are characterized as molecular cables constituting a central electron wire, four ion channels and an encompassing insulating hydrocarbon mantle.