Self-assembly of Liquid Crystalline Guanine Derivatives with Tuning Alkyl Chain Length

Abstract

In general, liquid crystalline (LC) molecules consist of a combination of rigid aromatic and flexible aliphatic parts. The length of the aliphatic chain affects the LC phase; thermotropic properties and crystal structure. Adjustment in the crystal structure can induce self-assembly of LC molecules. Herein, guanine-based LC molecules were synthesized containing guanine and peripheral alkoxybenzene part. Guanine, one of the nucleotides, can be formed a supramolecular structure called G-quadruplex with cations. Difference of the length of the alkyl chain and the presence of cations can induce self-assembly of the guanine unit and form G-quadruplex. Self-assembly of guanine was optimized and structurally analyzed.