Search

The synthesis and properties of a nanoporous network polymer incorporating 5,6,11,12,17,18-hexaazatrinapthylene Hatn as the rigid functional unit is described. This material is readily prepared from the efficient dibenzodioxane forming reaction between 2,3,8,9,14,15-hexachloro-5,6,11,12,17,18-hexaazatrinaphthylene and 5,5′,6,6′-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethyl-1,1′-spirobisindane and exhibits a high BET surface area 775 m2g−1 similar to that obtained from related nanoporous networks based on phthalocyanine and porphyrin macrocycles. The ability of the Hatn unit to bind to metal ions was shown by the sequential binding of three palladiumii dichloride moieties to a soluble model Hatn compound using a 1H NMR titration experiment. When exposed to an excess of palladiumii dichloride in chloroform solution, the Hatn nanoporous network is shown to adsorb 3.9 mmol g−1of the metal complex. The resulting material retains porosity BET surface area 347 m2g−1 and should be useful as a heterogeneous catalyst. The Hatn network polymer is also shown to be effective for the adsorption of phenol from aqueous solution with a maximum adsorption of 5 mmol g−1, which is a significant improvement over the performance of activated carbon reported in similar studies.

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.

The synthesis of a novel side-chain liquid crystalline polymer in which cholesterol mesogenic units are linked to a styrene backbone by a tris(ethyleneoxy) spacer is described. This amphiphilic polymer displays an unusual discontinuity in its monolayer behaviour at the air–water interface. This behaviour appears to be associated with the attainment of a closely-packed arrangement of the cholesterol units at higher values of surface pressure. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction shows that a well-ordered Y-type film is obtained if deposition is performed at a surface pressure above that of the apparent rearrangement.