Phase transition behaviors of crown-ether derivative and its sodium ion complex

The crown-ether derivatives containing azobenzene moieties, those were expected to form assembly resulted from π–π interaction, were synthesized as new class of amphiphilic monomer. The difference of phase transition behaviors and crystal structure between metal-free crown-ether derivative (AC) and sodium ion complex (ACNa) were investigated by DSC and XRD measurements. The difference of phase transition behaviors was observed by the difference of crystal preparation processes between crystallization from solution and cooling crystallization after melted in AC. In the case of ACNa, the cold crystallization and smectic LC phase were observed.