A Taxonomy of Fluorinated Tail Free Triphenylenes

Starting with 1,2,3,4-tetrafluorotriphenylene and adding a variety of substituents, we explore the complex phase behaviors that develop between closely packed, tail free, disc-like molecules. Notably, several molecules have been found to possess a discotic columnar liquid crystal mesophase. By examining the, at times subtle, differences between these discotic mesogens and their closely related but non-mesogenic counterparts, we hope to better understand the nature of the discotic columnar mesophase.