Synthesis and mesomorphism of 3,4-dialkoxyphenylpyridine complexes of silver(I)

3,4-Dialkoxyphenylpyridine complexes with silver dodecyl sulfate or silver triflate are liquid crystalline. The complexes are polycatenar and show one or both of a cubic and a columnar hexagonal phase depending on the chain length of the dialkoxyphenylpyridine and the anion associated with the silver. Their mesomorphism is compared both with the analogous and very well-studied silver complexes of dialkoxystilbazole ligands as well as closely related N-phenylpyridinium analogues. The slightly shorter nature of the dialkoxyphenylpyridines is important in determining the mesomorphism when compared to the dialkoxystilbazole complexes, whereas there are appreciable differences with the N-phenylpyridinium salts. The notable stabilisation of the Colh phase remains a feature of all three families of materials.