Liquid crystalline behaviour in some homologous series of beta-diketones and a few of their copper(II) and palladium(II) complexes

Abstract

The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of three homologous series of b.beta-diketones as well as one series each of copper(II) and palladium(II) complexes are reported. The b.beta-diketones exhibit a smectic A phase while both the copper(II) and palladium(II) complexes show only a metastable nematic phase. Optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry have been used to characterize the mesophases.