Liquid Crystals Based on the N-Phenylpyridinium Cation—Mesomorphism and the Effect of the Anion

Families of symmetric, ionic, tetracatenar mesogens are described based on a rigid, N-phenylpyridinium core, prepared as their triflimide, octyl sulfate and dodecyl salts for range terminal chain lengths. The mesomorphism the individual series is before comparison drawn between different families then more broadly with (i) neutral materials (ii) related bis(3,4-dialkoxystilbazole)silver(I) salts. For sulfates triflates reported earlier, SmA phase seen at shorter lengths, giving way to Colh lengthens. alkyl salts, an intermediate cubic also length required cause change from lamellar columnar mesophase depends anion. Furthermore, there unexpected sometime very large stabilisation entering phase. All triflimide show rectangular (ribbon)