Supramolecular Halogen Bonded Liquid Crystalline Polymers and Networks : a Study of Weak Associations on Mesophase Stability

Abstract

The application of halogen bonding towards the assembly of liquid crystalline materials is a relatively recent study. While the structure and energetics of the hydrogen bond is well-established, the electrostatic attraction of the halogen bond is considerably less well known. A series of polymers and networks utilizing 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-4-iodo benzene species as the halogen bond acceptor group was synthesized. The purpose of this study was to examine the overall stability of the halogen bond by probing the thermodynamics of the liquid crystalline phases, and then compared to structurally analogous hydrogen bonding species.