DESIGN AND CONSTITUTIONAL FEATURES OF MESOPHASE-FORMING UNI- OR SUPRAMOLECULAR DISCOTIC MATERIALS [1,2]

After introductory comments on the situation of liquid crystal work and its importance in scientific, technological, and social respect before the discovery and start of systematic exploration of non-linear flat, i.e., disc-shaped mesogens twenty-five years ago, illustrative thermotropic liquid crystalline uni- or supramolecular discotics are discussed in relation to geometric features of their constituent molecules or aggregates. These materials are divided into two main groups: radial-symmetric disc-like and unconventional non-linear mesogens. The first main group deals, first of all, with representative standard and thereafter with organometallic mesogens, whereas the second one is sub-divided into four parts: bulky unimolecular mesogens; hydrogen bonding and molecular recognition; polycatenar types of mesogens; inter- and intramolecular EDA/CT complexes. Clearly, the significance of micro-segregation for the mesophase formation in cases of unconventional molecular conditions is emphasized as well.