10.1002/chem.200802196
The research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and self-assembly behavior of asymmetrically substituted benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides (aBTAs). These compounds form well-defined aggregates in solid state and in dilute solutions, and exhibit liquid-crystalline properties. The study systematically investigates the influence of the position and configuration of a chiral methyl group in the aliphatic side chains on the aggregation behavior and liquid-crystalline properties of aBTAs, comparing them to symmetrical benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides (sBTAs). The synthesis involved coupling chiral amines to 3,5-bis-n-octylaminocarbonylbenzoic acid, and the characterization of the compounds in the solid state was conducted using techniques such as infrared (IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The self-assembly behavior in dilute alkane solutions was studied using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, which also helped to assess the presence of an odd–even effect. The analyses provided insights into the intermolecular hydrogen bonding, columnar hexagonal organization, and the stability of aggregates, illustrating the impact of minor structural changes on the properties and self-assembly of these compounds.