Theories and experimental investigations of the structural and thermotropic mesomorphic phase behaviors of metal carboxylates

Abstract

Investigations on the phase behaviors and structural properties of mono-, di- and poly-valent metal carboxylates are reviewed with ref. to developments in exptl. and theor. concepts surrounding their liq. cryst. properties. The main methods of structural investigation such as X-ray diffraction, IR and 13C-NMR spectroscopies are examd. in detail on the basis of common synthetic routes leading to the isolation of pure compds. A detailed review of the thermal behaviors of several metal carboxylates is presented along with proposed theories and mol. models for odd-even alternation, chain length effects, phase structures and mesophase formation. Theories explaining the effects of metal ion radii and chain unsatn. are also discussed. Proposed degrdn. mechanisms resulting in the formation of various products and kinetic studies are also considered. Though this review highlights a no. of investigations on the structural and phase properties of the mostly widely studied carboxylates, the results presented here strongly indicate that there is room for further studies on some of these systems. [on SciFinder(R)]