Unusual smectic ordering of unlocked copper bis-(terpyridine) complexes

Abstract

Molecular order and mobility suggest a new strategy to engineer nanostructures. Helical metallomesogens, formed from nonmesomorphic, segmented, iminoterpyridine ligands coordinated to copper(I) centers, align into rows within sublayers of an ordered biaxial smectic phase without third- dimensional correlation of the layers. Selective oxidation of a dicopper helicate to a mixed Cu(I)/Cu(II) mesogen occurs under ambient conditions.