Fluorination of supramolecular liquid crystals – tuning tool and analytical probe

A study on the impact of fluorination on the properties of photo-responsive hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals is reported. The chosen modular approach allows for efficient screening of a variety of hydrogen-bonded assemblies. Tremendous effects on the mesophase stabilization and morphology are described. In addition, the fluorine substituents are used as analytical probes for 19F solid-state NMR studies, providing insight into the molecular alignment of the assemblies.