AMPHIPHILIC TERPYRIDINE COMPLEXES OF RUTHENIUM AND RHODIUM DISPLAYINGLYOTROPIC MESOMORPHISM

New 4'-alkyl -substituted 2.2': 6',2 ''-terpyridine (4'R-terpy) compou nds have been synthesised from 4'-methyl-2,2': 6'.2 ''-terpyridine and an appropriate l-bromoalkane and complexed with ruthenium and rhodium to yield new bis(terpyridine) complexes [Ru(terpy) (4'R-terpy)](2+) ( R = C19H39 or C31H63) and [Rh(terpy) (4'R-terpy)](3+) (R = C19H39) as chloride and hexafluorophosphate salts. These complexes are amphiphili c being structurally related to surfactant tris(bipyridine)ruthenium c omplexes. Both ruthenium and rhodium complexes with R = C19H39 and chl oride counter ions show lyotropic mesomorphism in water, and the ruthe nium complex with R = C31H63 shows mesophase formation in ethylene gly col.