EFFECT OF FUNCTIONALIZATION ON GLASS-FORMATION BY COLUMNAR MESOPHASES OF SUBSTITUTED TRIPHENYLENE MESOGENS

A new kind of discotic liquid crystal has been investigated where one out of the six ether side chains of a triphenylene core was replaced by an ester side chain. We have found greatly increased clearing temperatures and suppressed crystallization thus leading to glass forming discotics. Here we report the synthesis, X-ray and dielectric studies concerning the nature of the glass transition. Furthermore we give arguments as to why a 'mixed' substitution can lead to such drastic effects.