THE POLYPHILES - LYOTROPIC AND THERMOTROPIC MESOPHASES OF SUBSTITUTEDCOPPER-COMPLEXES

The structural properties of mesophases formed from a polyphilic deriv ative constituted of a rigid metallo-organic moiety substituted with a lkyl and polyethylene oxide side chains are described. The segregation of the chemically different parts yields mesomorphic phases (Principe des affinites Electives). X-ray diffraction studies indicate a lamell ar structure with a periodic organization of the metallic complexes wi thin the lamellae. The structural parameters of the organization of th e metallo-organic subunits are compatible with those of the alkyl and poly ethylene oxide side chains. A definition of two-dimensional gener alized shapes is given and applied to rationalize the packing of the m etallo-organic complex moieties.