Synthetic strategies towards macrodiscotic materials. Can a new dimension be added to liquid crystal polymers?

Macrodiscotic materials are liquid crystalline systems composed of an extended planar structure. It is anticipated that the self-ordering of such materials will result in interesting mechanical and electronic properties. Two synthetic strategies for the realisation of macrodiscotic materials are reviewed: firstly, the preparation of molecules which possess a single extended discotic core and secondly, the assembly of rigid, planar macromolecules composed of a random array of fused discotic units. Oxanthrene-based phthalonitrile precursors, prepared by high yielding reactions between catechols and 4,5-dichlorophthalonitrile, are used to explore both strategies for the synthesis of macrodiscotic materials that incorporate phthalocyanine (Pc) as the discotic unit.