The First tetrafluorinated azobenzene-imidazolium ionic conjugates as potential thermotropic liquid crystalline drugs: Self-assembly properties and cytotoxic effects

•This is the first report of tetrafluorinated azobenzene-imidazolium thermotropic ionic liquid crystals (ILCs).•Mesophase and biological efficacy of these ILCs were dependent on alkyl chain length incationic imidazolium head group.•These ILCs were qualified as ionic liquids which melted below 100 °C and exhibited very stable smectic A phase.•Their cytotoxic effect was 7 to 27 times stronger than that of the anticancer agent, Etoposide.•Long-chain homologues (selectivity index ≥ 3) may represent new alternatives to fabricate safe and selective thermotropic liquid crystalline anticancer drugs.