Synthesis and properties of copper (II), oxovanadium (IV) and gadolinium (III) complexes derived from polar Schiff’s bases

The synthesis, liquid crystalline and optical properties of copper (II), oxovanadium (IV) and gadolinium (III) complexes derived from polar Schiff’s bases viz., N-(4-n-hexadecyloxysalicylidene)-4′-substituted anilines with methoxy, fluoro and chloro substituents in the 4-position of N-aryl moiety are presented. All the ligands exhibited smectic A phase except methoxy homolog which exhibited nematic phase. Majority of the complexes exhibited smectic A phase with some of them exhibiting smectic E phases. The UV–Visible and photo-luminescent properties of the ligands and complexes are also discussed.

► We designed polar Schiff’s bases exhibiting mesomorphism.
► Polarizability contribution to enhanced mesomorphic range is discussed.
► Mesomorphism of Cu (II), VO (IV) and Gd (III) complexes with polar ligands is discussed.
► Nematic, SmA and SmE phases are discussed.
► Fluorescence in the ligands and Ln complexes is discussed.