Self-Assembly of C3h and Cs Symmetric Keto-enamine Forms of Tris(N-salicyl-ideneanilines) into Columnar Phases: A New Family of Discotic Liquid Crystals

Abstract
A new class of discotic liquid crystals derived from tris(N-salicylideneanilines) existing exclusively in their C3h and Cs keto-enamine tautomeric forms is reported. These compounds self-assemble to form columnar liquid crystalline phases with a small core−core separation as evidenced by X-ray diffraction studies.