Evidence for room temperature mesomorphism in a mixed-valent diruthenium(II,III) quintapalmitoleate polymer

The synthesis of Ru-2(mu-O2CR)(4)(mu'-O2CR) (1), R = -CH2(CH2)(6)CH==CH(CH2 )(5)CH3, has been achieved and characterization using elemental analysis an d FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopies undertaken. Strong evidence for a hexagona l discotic mesophase has been found using differential scanning calorimetry , variable-temperature polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray powder diff raction. A solid to liquid crystal transition was found upon heating at 128 degrees C and the mesophase is found to persist to room temperature upon c ooling from 150 degrees C. This is the first report of room temperature mes omorphism in a mixed-valent metallomesogen.