Isocyanide gold mesogens

As indicated above in chiral mesophases, the introduction of a functional group in mesogenic stmctures offers the opportunity to achieve functional LCs. With this aim, mesomorphic crown-ether-isocyanide-gold(I) complexes (26) have been prepared recently [38]. The derivatives with one alkoxy chain show monotropic SmC mesophases at or close to room temperature. In contrast, the complexes with three alkoxy chains behave as monotropic (n = 4) or enantiotropic (n > 4) LCs. The structure of the mesophases could not be fully eluddated because X-ray diffraction studies in the mesophase were unsuccessful and mesophase characterization was made only on the basis of polarized optical microscopy. These complexes are luminescent not only in the solid state and in solution, but also in the mesophase and in the isotropic liquid state at moderate temperatures. The emission spectra of 26a with n=12 were... 

Most gold mesogens with perhaloaryl ligands as promesogen also contain isocyanide (mesogen or promesogen) ligands. Therefore, they were introduced in Section 7.2.5.3. 

Figure 2.40 Euminescent fluorinated crown-ether-isocyanide gold(I) metallo-mesogens...

Lateral monofluorination of the p-alkoxyphenyl isocyanide system [XAu (CNC6H40C H2 +i)] (X = C1, Br, I), in ortho-(3-F) (6a) and meta-(2-F) (6b) positions relative to the alkoxy chain was also studied [18]. None of the free fluorinated ligands is a LC, but their gold complexes display mesomorphic properties. This is a typical case of a promesogenic ligand which yields a mesogen upon coordination to a metal. 

Arias, J., Bardaji, M. and Espinet, P. (2008) Luminescence and Mesogenic Properties in Crown-Ether-Isocyanide or Carbene Gold(I) Complexes Luminescence in Solution, in the Solid, in the Mesophase, and in the Isotropic Liquid State. Inorganic Chemistry, 47, 3559-3567. 

Hie first helical SmC mesophase for a gold(I) mesogen has been prepared by means of complexation to an enantiomerically pure chiral isocyanide (Figure 7.32) [30]. This... 

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