Lamellar polycatenars

So what about the cubic phase In polycatenar systems, it is possible to rationalize the formation of cubic phases on the basis of surface curvature alone, which will be considered in subsequent sections. However, it can be argued that, for calamitic systems, these arguments do not hold—at least on their own—and that other factors are important. For example, if cubic-phase formation is due to surface curvature, it is not possible to explain why an Sa phase (lamellar and with no surface curvature) is seen at higher temperatures. An important factor is the presence of specific intermolecular interactions and in the case of the silver systems, these are the intermolecular electrostatic interactions resulting from the presence of formally ionic groups. This is consistent with the observation of cubic phases in the biphenylcarboxylic acids and hydrazines (Fig. 29), as well as with other materials. However, it is also evident that this is not the only factor, as no cubic phase is seen with anion chains shorter than DOS, while other studies with fluorinated alkoxystilbazoles showed that the position of fluorine substitution could determine the presence or absence of the mesophase observed in the unsubstituted derivatives (56). Thus, structural factors are clearly not negligible. 

Other 5,15-disubstituted porphyrins were described by Ohta and co-workers, but most do not fit the label polycatenar and are described in the section on discotic materials (Section 1.9.12). However, one derivative did possess a more conventional tetracatenar structure (131) and was reported as showing the so-called discotic lamellar phase. While it does not contain a central metal, it is included here for completeness. 

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