Novel cyclotriveratrylene columnar liquid crystal with three alkyl chains: The balance between the number and length of alkyl chains for liquid crystalline behavior

Series of cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) derivatives with triazole ring and three alkyl groups were prepared by one-pot click condensation in yield of 80–88%. The structures and crown conformations were confirmed by NMR and MS. Their liquid crystalline properties were investigated by DSC, POM and XRD analysis. The studies on mesomorphic properties suggested that the CTV derivatives with pentyl, hexyl or dodecyl groups show no mesophase but the one with octadecyl groups possesses ordered hexagonal columnar mesophase. In comparison with the reported columnar CTV liquid crystals with six alkyl chains at least, the CTV columnar CTV liquid crystal with three alkyl chains was reported for the first time. These results suggested a subtle balance between the number and length of alkyl chains for columnar CTV liquid crystalline behavior.