SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ROD-LIKE METALLOMESOGENS OF MN(I) BASED ON SCHIFF-BASE LIGANDS

Complexation of liquid-crystalline imines to Mn(I) carbonyls led to li quid-crystalline complexes when the ligated imine was sufficiently ani sotropic. Thus, all two-ring and some three-ring imine ligands were no t mesomorphic when complexed, while some three-ring and all four-ring imines led to mesomorphic complexes. As expected, complexation disturb ed the anisotropy of the ligands and led to a lowering of clearing poi nts and a suppression of smectic phase formation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience S.A.