The first examples of supramolecular discotic C3h tris(N-salicylideneamine)s featuring inter- and intra-molecular H-bonding: synthesis and characterization

Supramolecular liquid crystalline tris(N-salicylideneamine)s (TSANs) featuring both inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding have been synthesized and characterized for the first time. These TSANs formed by condensing 3 equiv of 3,4,5-trialkoxybenzoylhydrazine with 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol exist as the single C3h-symmetric keto-enamine product solely, unlike the previously reported TSANs. Their self-assembly into supramolecular fluid hexagonal columnar phase over a wide thermal range is evidenced with the aid of optical microscopic, calorimetric, and powder X-ray diffraction techniques.