Mesomorphic phase transitions of tetraphenylporphyrins with four long aliphatic chains

Studies of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-n-alkylphenyl)porphyrins revealed that the homologues with longer alkyl chains than hexyl were mesomorphic, in contrast to the non-mesomorphic alkoxy derivatives. Metal complexes (Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pd) of the dodecyl derivative were also shown to exhibit mesophases. These mesophases were assigned as discotic lamellar (DL) phases by X-ray diffraction studies.