Syntheses and mesomorphic properties of new oxygen-bridged dicopper complex homologous derived from azo-containing salicylaldimine Schiff base ligands

The synthesis, characterization and liquid crystal properties of a homologous series of new tridentate 5-((4-(n)alkoxyphenyl) azo)-N-(3-ydroxypropyl) salicylaldimine ligands (alkoxy = octloxy, decyloxy, dodecyloxy and tetradecyloxy) and their dicopper(II) complexes are reported. These ligands were prepared by the condensation of the 5-((4-(n)alkoxyphenyl)azo)salicylaldehydes homologous with 3-amino-1-propanol. The ligands and their dicopper complexes have been characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analyzes. The liquid crystalline properties of the ligands and the related dicopper complexes were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and by using a polarizing microscope equipped with a heating and cooling stage. None of the free ligands exhibit liquid crystalline behavior but all of the dicopper complexes demonstrate a smectic A mesophase. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.