Induction of liquid crystalline phases in linear polyamines by complexation of transition metal ions

In this paper, we describe the preparation and characterization of polyamine–copper complexes based onN-alkylated polyethyleneimines which were obtained by polymer analogous reduction of the corresponding N-acylated polymers. Liquid crystalline properties of the originating linear polyamides are lost in the resulting polyamines which show a higher conformational mobility. In analogy to low molecular mass azacrown derivatives, the complexation of transition metal ions, here copper(ii), may reinduce liquid crystalline behavior. The structure formation in the liquid crystalline state is discussed based on X-ray investigations.