Synthesis and Liquid Crystalline Properties of Unsymmetrically Substituted Naphthalenediimides with a Polar Headgroup: Effect of Amide Hydrogen Bonding and Alkyl Chain Length.

A series of new unsymmetrically substituted naphthalenediimide (NDI) moieties NDI-1 to NDI-6 were synthesized. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by means of FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, ESI-mass and HRMS spectroscopic measurements. UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to investigate the photophysical properties of the prepared compounds in solution and in the solid state. Using the onset of UV/Vis absorption, the optical band gaps were calculated. Cyclic voltammetry measurements were performed to study the electrochemical behavior and to calculate the LUMO energy levels. The thermal properties of NDI derivatives were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The mesomorphic birefringent behavior of the NDI derivatives was investigated with polarizing optical microscopy. Among all of the studied NDI derivatives, only NDI-1, NDI-2, and NDI-3 showed liquid crystalline texture, owing to the presence of an amide linkage for H-bonding along with aromatic moieties for π-π-stacking.

Introduction

The design, synthesis, and optical properties of organic π‐conjugated systems are studied in different fields, which have attracted considerable attention from various research groups in recent years. The self‐assembled and self‐organized π‐conjugated systems possess excellent potential to be employed in organic semiconductor devices and charge‐transporting devices. Furthermore, their ability to exhibit liquid crystalline (LC) behavior is very interesting.1, 2, 3 During the synthesis of LC materials, researchers were troubled by the solubility issue with higher molecular analogues. Hence, researchers turned their attention towards lower‐molecular‐weight analogue derivatives to overcome the solubility issue and succeeded to realize the LC behavior. Liquid crystallinity is the fourth state of matter, that is, an intermediate state between solid crystals and conventional liquid, and is distinguished by different molecular orientations, alignments, and ordered states.

LC materials are electrical insulators and are employed in flat panel displays and for developing semiconductor materials.4 Mostly, π‐conjugated systems have been used during the construction of LC materials, because it assists in inducing π–π stacking and hydrogen‐bonding interactions to promote self‐assembly and self‐organization. Whereas the self‐organization asserts aggregation and exhibits appropriate orientations for LC materials, the polar headgroups also play a vital role during the alignment of LC materials, not only for thermotropic, but also for lyotropic LC phases.5

Naphthalenediimide (NDI) and its derivatives are excellent n‐type semiconductor materials with high electron affinities, owing to their self‐organization manifested by the π–π stacking.6, 7 NDI is an ideal building block for the construction of self‐assembled nanostructures such as nanowires, nanoflowers, nanosheets, vesicles, nanospheres, golf‐ball‐like morphology, nanotubes, nanowires, rods, and ribbons because of their high π–π stacking interactions.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Nevertheless, NDIs are lower homologues among other rylenediimides and have been studied extensively in the field of optoelectronics, fabrication of field‐effect transistors, organic light‐emitting diodes, and flexible LC display, owing to charge carrier mobility and π‐electron delocalization, which leads to conductivity.19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Yitzchaik and co‐workers25 first studied the molecular layer epitaxy of NDI derivatives and LC properties. Schab‐Balcerzak et al. reported the synthesis and thermotropic LC properties of n class="Chemical">azomethine–NDI for optoelectronic applications.26 Reckzek and co‐workers established the charge transfer in columnar LC materials using NDI (acceptor) and alkoxy anthracene (donor). [27] Recently, Xiao et al. demonstrated LC properties of NDI‐based dyads, triads with a substituted triphenylene core as the donor.28

The changes in alkyl chain length are well documented to affect the aggregation ability, thermal, and electronic properties of the material.29 Furthermore, Lee et al. demonstrated that, by tuning the alkyl chain length of the NDI polymer, the electron mobility and solar cell efficiency in organic photovoltaics are enhanced.30

The above comprehensive list of applications of NDI, including the donor–acceptor motif, motivated us to design and synthesize unsymmetrical NDI derivatives with alkyl chains at one end and a cyanophenyl moiety at the other terminal end. Herein, we report the synthesis of NDI derivatives NDI‐1 to NDI‐6, and demonstrated the distinct influence of an n class="Chemical">amide linkage and long alkyl chains to manifest the LC properties. The π–π stacking and amide hydrogen bonding would assist for self‐organization and a polar headgroup such as a nitrile would be beneficial, which takes part in enhancing the dipole moment and assigns appropriate orientations in the liquid crystal.31

Results and Discussion

Synthesis and Characterization

The synthetic details for compounds NDI‐1 to NDI‐3 are shown in Scheme 1. A one‐step imide formation reaction between 1,4,5,8‐naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride (NDA), n class="Chemical">aliphatic amines, and monoboc ethylenediamine in dry dimethylformamide (DMF) yields compounds 4–6. Compounds 4–6 were readily subjected to boc deprotection in the presence of 1:1 trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)/dichloromethane (DCM) to yield the appropriate amines. These amines were further used for coupling with the acid chloride of 4‐cyano benzoic acid in the presence of triethylamine/DCM to give the desired products NDI‐1 to NDI‐3. Furthermore, all compounds were fully characterized by using spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, NDI‐4 to NDI‐6 were prepared via imide formation reaction by using NDA, alkyl amine, and 4‐amino benzonitrile, as outlined in Scheme 1. Similarly, the chemical structures of NDI‐4 to NDI‐6 were also confirmed by spectral and elemental analysis.

Scheme 1

Synthetic scheme of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 compounds.

The obtained analytical data of NDI‐1 are in good agreement with their chemical structure. The 1H NMR spectrum of compound NDI‐1 is discussed; a peak for four protons of the NDI core appeared as a singlet at 8.85–8.81 ppm. The n class="Chemical">nitrile‐bearing phenyl ring exhibits one singlet peak for four protons at 7.80 ppm. The amide proton peak was observed at 7.64–7.62 ppm as a broad singlet. In the 13C NMR spectrum, the characteristic peak of −CN carbon appeared at δ 115.61 ppm. The obtained HRMS value, 551.2289, confirms the structure of compound NDI‐1. The FT‐IR peaks at 1658 and 1702 cm−1 of NDI‐1 confirmed the presence of amide and imide carbonyl functional groups, respectively, along with the −CN stretching peak at 2231 cm−1. In compounds NDI‐2 to NDI‐6, the elemental analysis deviation for carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen was found to be more than 0.3 %, which could be attributed to the presence of solvent trapped in the LC compounds. Usually, it is very difficult to remove the trapped solvent from such π‐conjugated small molecules.

The synthesized compounds were further characterized by using UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques.

UV/Vis and Fluorescence Study

UV/Vis absorption and emission spectroscopy were employed to study the photophysical properties of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6. The UV/Vis absorption spectra were measured both in tetrahydrofuran (n class="Chemical">THF) solution and in a thin film coated onto a glass substrate (Figure 1). Absorption spectra of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 showed two intense peaks at 358 and 378 nm along with one shoulder peak at 340 nm. The absorption peaks above 340 nm are characteristic peaks for NDIs and attributes the π–π* transition. Significant redshifts in the absorption peaks of thin films of these synthesized NDIs are observed with respect to all NDIs in solution, reflecting the conformations of π–π stacking and aggregation. The photophysical data of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 are detailed in Table 1.

Figure 1

Normalized UV/Vis spectra of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 in 1×10−5  m THF solution (solid lines) and thin films (dashed line).

Table 1

Photophysical data of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 in solution in THF (1×10−5  m) and in thin films on a glass substrate.[a]

Compound	λ max (abs) [nm]	ϵ [l m −1 cm−1]	λ max (em) [nm]	UV/Vis (film) [nm]	ϵ [l m −1 cm−1]
NDI‐1	379	27 700	403	388	65553
NDI‐2	379	13 400	401	388	34260
NDI‐3	378	13 500	405	387	69478
NDI‐4	379	34 700	401	387	89953
NDI‐5	379	29 400	405	388	64948
NDI‐6	379	19 700	403	388	97169

[a] ϵ=Absorbance.

Upon excitation at 355 nm, compounds NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 shows emission peaks at 403, 401, 405, 401, 405, and 403 nm, respectively (Figure 2 and Table 1). The thin film fluorescence emission spectra were recorded on a quartz substrate with excitation at 355 nm; it can be clearly seen that the 403, 401, and 405 nm peaks for NDI‐1 to NDI‐3 are present, with additional broad emission peaks at 530, 528, and 550 nm, respectively (Figure S1). However, for NDI‐4 to NDI‐6, the additional emission peaks appeared at 455, 460, and 462 nm, respectively (Figure S1). The appearance of additional emission peaks could be attributed to the π–π stacking of the NDI core in the solid state. Nevertheless, the appearance of pronounced redshifts in emission peaks of NDI‐1 to NDI‐3 compared to NDI‐4 to NDI‐6 are attributed to π–π stacking of the NDI core along with the presence of amide n class="Chemical">hydrogen‐bonding interactions in thin film.

Figure 2

Normalized UV/Vis spectra (solid line) of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 and fluorescence emission (λex=355 nm) spectra (dashed line) in THF (1×10−5  m).

Electrochemical Properties

The electrochemical properties of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 were measured by using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The obtained voltammograms of the NDI derivatives are presented in Figure 3. The NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 compounds exhibited a single electrochemical reduction process characteristic of NDI between potentials of −0.7 and −0.6 V. Determination of onset reduction potential values allowed the calculation of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). The optical band gap values (E g≈3.17 to 3.18 eV) for the NDI derivatives were calculated from the onset of the UV/Vis absorption band, as enlisted in Table 2. Utilizing the LUMO values and optical band gap, we determined the HOMO values of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6.

Figure 3

Overlapped cyclic voltammograms of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 in THF (1×10−5  m) with a scan rate of 50 mV s−1, 0.1 m Bu4 VHClO4 supporting electrolyte, a Pt disk working electrode, a Pt wire counter electrode, and a saturated calomel reference electrode.

Table 2

Electronic parameters of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6.

Compound	λ (onset) [nm]	Eg=1240/λ (onset) [nm]	E (onset, red) [V]	LUMO [eV][a]	HOMO [eV]]b]
NDI‐1	389	3.18	−0.75	−4.05	−7.23
NDI‐2	389	3.17	−0.67	−4.13	−7.30
NDI‐3	390	3.18	−0.78	−4.02	−7.20
NDI‐4	390	3.17	−0.96	−3.84	−7.01
NDI‐5	389	3.18	−0.67	−4.13	−7.31
NDI‐6	389	3.18	−0.64	−4.16	−7.34

[a] LUMO [eV]=−[E red + 4.8]. [b] HOMO [eV]=LUMO‐Eg

Overlapped cyclic voltammograms of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 in THF (1×10−5  m) with a scan rate of 50 mV s−1, 0.1 m n class="Chemical">Bu4 VHClO4 supporting electrolyte, a Pt disk working electrode, a Pt wire counter electrode, and a saturated calomel reference electrode.

Phase Behavior and LC Properties

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) Measurements

The thermal properties of the compounds show multiple transitions, as estimated by DSC during heating and cooling cycles. Mostly, on the second heating cycle, the phase transitions disappeared, which could be assigned to the melting of crystals,32 whereas the second cooling cycle assigns the molten phase of the liquid. The second heating and first cooling DSC thermograms at 10 °C min−1 were recorded and the results are presented in Table 3. The DSC thermograms include the series of synthesized unsymmetrical NDI derivatives NDI‐1 to NDI‐6. NDI derivatives NDI‐1 to NDI‐3 bearing an amide linkage show the transition phase at different temperatures, which is shown in Figure 4. In NDI‐4 to NDI‐6, such behavior is not observed (Figure S2).

Table 3

Phase‐transition temperatures of compounds NDI‐1 to NDI‐6, recorded for the second heating cycle (first row) and second cooling cycle (second row) at 5 °C min−1 from DSC and confirmed with POM. The enthalpies (ΔH in kJ mol−1) and entropies (ΔS in J m−−1) are presented in parentheses.

Crystalline	Liquid crystalline		Isotropic
Compound	Heating [°C]	Cooling [°C]	Heating [°C]	Cooling [°C]
NDI‐1	206.0 (3.06, 6.39)	197.7 (2.27, 4.82)	264.8 (22.8, 42.4)	258.6 (21.9, 41.1)
NDI‐2	140.0 (2.97, 7.20)	135.4 (2.79, 6.84)	260.7 (15.5, 29.2)	254.2 (3.0, 5.73) LC1 261.5 (0.66, 1.23)
NDI‐3	126.6 (2.17, 5.46)	123.8 (3.59, 9.06)	252.6 (6.61, 15.2)	251.5 (9.40, 17.9)
NDI‐4			287.1 (36.0, 64.2)	260.8 (38.7, 72.7)
NDI‐5			285.1/273.1
NDI‐6	140.7 (5.47, 10.6)	139.1 (6.89, 13.4)	262.5 (30.3, 56.7)	256.6 (29.8, 56.3)

Figure 4

DSC thermograms of model compounds: a) NDI‐1, b) NDI‐2, and c) NDI‐3 recorded at a heating/cooling rate of 5 °C min−1.

Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM)

Compounds NDI‐1 to NDI‐3 were studied for their mesomorphic properties through the observation of optical textures with POM. Upon slow cooling, compound NDI‐1 exhibited a birefringent texture at 258 °C (Table 3), which stabilized later with a consistent pattern and developed throughout the entire region of thin film. The texture resembles the textures observed for a discotic nematic phase, as shown in Figures 5 a and 5 b). The sample crystallized at 198 °C (Table 3). Similarly, compound NDI‐2 exhibited a birefringent optical texture in the cooling cycle at 254 °C (Table 3), as shown in Figure 5 c. NDI‐3 also exhibited the LC texture at temperatures below 251 °C (Table 3), as shown in Figure 5 d.

Figure 5

POM images of NDI derivatives: a) growth of mesomorphic birefringent texture at 257 °C of NDI‐1; b) fully developed birefringent texture 256.7 °C; c) mesomorphic texture of NDI‐2 at 260 °C. d) Indicates mesomorphic texture of NDI‐3 at 260 °C.

As the alkyl chain length increases from C8 to C12 and C16, the transition temperature decreases from 258 to 254 and 251 °C, and the NDI derivatives exhibit a discotic nematic phase, birefringent, and crystalline phase, respectively. These results suggest the change in alkyl chain length could change the LC phase with the respective transition temperature. Hence, it is concluded that the nature of the LC texture depends on the flexibility of the spacer, the linkage group, and the polar end group, which creates the transverse dipole moment that supports molecular interactions.31 The LC properties were disrupted in the presence of an increasing percentage of amide linkages.33 However, without an n class="Chemical">amide linkage, the NDI derivatives did not exhibit multiple phase transitions during the heating and cooling cycles. It implies that NDI‐4 to NDI‐6 (Figure S3) could not exhibit LC behavior, and we assume that the spacer as well as the type of linkage for molecular interactions plays an important role in inducing mesomorphism.

Conclusions

We have studied the effect of the amide linkage and different alkyl chain lengths on the liquid crystalline (LC) properties of NDI‐based derivatives. In NDI‐1 to NDI‐3, as the alkyl chain length increases from C8 to C12 and C16, it was observed that the transition temperature decreases from 258 to 254 and 251 °C, and different LC properties are observed, going from a discotic nematic phase to a birefringent and crystalline phase, respectively. Whereas, NDI‐4 to NDI‐6, without a spacer or n class="Chemical">amide linkage, do not display any LC properties. These results imply the importance of the alkyl chain length as well as the amide linkage for hydrogen bonding in LC behavior. We believe that such an LC materials may have future potential applications in display devices such as TVs, mobile phones, computer monitors, and so forth.

Experimental Section

1,4,5,8‐Naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, aliphatic amines, and n class="Chemical">ethylenediamine were purchased from Sigma Aldrich (Bengaluru, Karnataka, India); 4‐amino benzonitrile and 4‐cyano benzoic acid were purchased from Spectrochem (Hyderabad, Telangana, India) and were used without further purification. Furthermore, all other solvents and chemicals were distilled and dried before use such as DMF, DCM, and triethylamine. Spectroscopic‐grade solvents were used for all optical measurements.

Spectroscopic Measurements

1H NMR spectra were recorded on AVANCE 300 and 500 MHz instruments. n class="Chemical">13C NMR spectra were recorded on 75, 100, and 125 MHz NMR spectrometers, using tetramethylsilane (TMS) as the internal standard and CDCl3‐d or [D6]DMSO as the solvent. Mass spectrometric data were obtained by using the positive electron spray ionization (ESI‐MS) technique on an Agilent Technologies 1100 Series (Agilent Chemistation Software) mass spectrometer. High‐resolution mass spectra (HRMS) were obtained by using an ESI‐QTOF mass spectrometr. FT‐IR spectra were recorded on a PerkinElmer spectrum‐100 spectrometer. Elemental analysis was carried out by using a Vario Micro Cube.

Optical Measurements

Electronic absorption and emission spectra were recorded on an Agilent Technologies Cary 5000 eclipse UV/Vis‐NIR spectrophotometer and Agilent technologies Cary eclipse fluorescence spectrophotometer, respectively. For DSC, the phase transition temperatures and associated enthalpies were measured on a PerkinElmer Pyris‐1 system with a heating/cooling rate of 5 °C min−1.

Synthetic Procedures

Synthesis of Compound 4–6

In the synthesis of compounds 4, 5, and 6, imidation reactions were performed by modifying a reported procedure.16 1,4,5,8‐Napthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NDA) (1 g, 0.0037 mol) and mono boc‐ethylene din class="Chemical">amine (1.2 equiv) were mixed in 15 mL of dry DMF under a N2 atmosphere, and then the reaction mixture was heated under reflux to yield a clear brown solution. Then, the aliphatic amine (1 equiv) was added into the reaction mixture. Furthermore, the reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 16 h in a N2 atmosphere. The completion of the reaction was monitored by TLC analysis. After completion of reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure by using a rotary evaporator, which gave the crude product as a brown solid. This was re‐precipitated by using methanol and removal of the solvent was subsequently achieved by filtration. The obtained product, a faint brown solid, was purified by column chromatography using silica gel (60–120 mesh), eluting with a mixture of DCM and hexane (8:2, v/v), followed by evaporation of solvent on a rotary evaporator under vacuum to yield the pure product as a brown solid (0.92 g, 48 %).

Compounds 5 and 6 were synthesized by following the procedure adopted for synthesis of compound 4.

Spectroscopic Data of Compound 4

FT‐IR (KBr, cm−1): 3352, 2924, 1704, 1686, 1656; 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3, n class="Chemical">TMS) δ ppm:8.77–8.74 (m, 4 H, J=7.6 Hz), 4.87 (br, 1 H), 4.39–4.37 (t, 2 H, J=5.64 Hz), 4.20–4.17 (t, 2 H, J=7.26 Hz), 3.56–3.55 (t, 2 H), 1.77–1.71 (m, 2 H),1.30–1.25 (m, 19 H) 0.89–0.86 (t, 3 H, J=6.7 Hz); 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3, TMS) δppm: 163.09, 162.66, 156.09, 130.96, 130.80, 126.58, 126.37, 79.22, 40.96, 40.60, 39.10, 31.74, 29.64.29.22, 29.13, 28.11, 28.01, 27.04, 22.57, 14.03; ESI‐MS m/z (%): 544 [M+Na]+; HRMS: Calculated. for C29H36N3O6 [M+H]+: 522.2598; found: 522.2598, Calculated. for C29H35N3O6Na [M+Na]+: 544.2417; found: 544.2418.

Spectroscopic Data of Compound 5

FT‐IR (KBr, cm−1): 2920, 1697, 1660; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, n class="Chemical">TMS) δ ppm:8.76 (m, 4 H), 4.86 (br, 1 H), 4.40–4.37 (t, 2 H, J=5.38 Hz), 4.21‐ 4.17 (t, 2 H, J=7.45 Hz), 3.56 (t, 2 H), 1.78–1.70 (m, 2 H), 1.25–1.22 (m, 27 H), 0.89–0.85 (t, 3 H, J=6.62 Hz); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3, TMS) δ ppm: 161.90, 161.47, 132.25, 131.90, 127.42, 125.58, 78.73, 41.91, 40.90, 38.76, 31.93, 29.63, 29.24, 27.92, 27.45, 22.68, 13.99. ESI‐MS m/z (%): 610 [M+Na]+.

Spectroscopic Data of Compound 6

FT‐IR (KBr, cm−1) (6): 3425, 2916, 1703, 1659; 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3, n class="Chemical">TMS) δ ppm: 8.77–8.74 (m, 4 H, J=7.6 Hz), 4.86 (br, 1 H), 4.39–4.37 (t, 2 H, J=5.64 Hz), 4.20–4.17 (t, 2 H, J=7.26 Hz), 3.56–3.55 (t, 2 H), 1.75–1.72 (m, 2 H) 1.25 (m, 35 H), 0.89–0.86 (t, 3 H, J=7.1 Hz); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3, TMS) δ ppm: 163.19, 162.76, 156.12, 131.03, 130.86, 126.74, 126.66, 79.28, 41.01, 40.61, 39.15, 31.90, 29.67, 29.33, 28.11, 27.07, 22.61, 14.11;ESI‐MS m/z (%):535 [M+H]+.

Synthesis of NDI‐1

After boc deprotection of compound 4, 5, or 6 using TFA/n class="Chemical">DCM (1:1) at room temperature for 4–5 h, it was immediately used for further reactions to synthesize compounds NDI‐1 to NDI‐3.

A catalytic amount of DMF was added to 4‐cyano benzoic acid (0.05 g, 0.00034 mol) in a 50 mL round‐bottom flask. Distilled n class="Chemical">thionyl chloride (3.5 mL, 0.047 mol) was added dropwise at 0 °C to the aforementioned solution. The reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 6 h. The excess of thionyl chloride was evaporated under vacuum by using a rotary evaporator under a N2 atmosphere. Deprotected amine was mixed in dry DCM, and then the mixture was added dropwise to the acid chloride solution. Then, triethylamine (0.5 mL) was added at once to a stirred mixture of amine and acid chloride. The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously for 30 min under a N2 atmosphere. Then, the reaction mixture was heated under reflux for 8 h. The completion of the reaction was monitored by TLC, following which the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature. Evaporation of solvent under reduced pressure yields a white residue, which was washed with saturated NaHCO3 and extracted with CH2Cl2 (2×25 mL). The obtained crude product was purified by column chromatography using DCM/MeOH (98:2, v/v) as an eluent, yielding pure product NDI‐1 (0.083 g, 64 %) as a solid.

Compounds NDI‐2 and NDI‐3 were synthesized following the procedure for the synthesis of NDI‐1.

Spectroscopic Data of Compound NDI‐1

MP: 262 °C; FT‐IR (KBr, cm−1) : 3279, 2923, 2231, 1702, and 1658; 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3, n class="Chemical">TMS) δ ppm: 8.85–8.81(m, 4 H, J=7.62 Hz), 7.80 (s, 4 H,), 7.64–7.62 (brs, 1 H) 4.62–4.60 (t, 2 H, J=5.18 Hz), 4.23–4.20 (t, 2 H, J=7.62 Hz), 4.02–3.92(t, 2 H), 1.77–1.71, (m, 2 H), 1.26 (m, 10 H), 0.89–0.86 (t, 3 H); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3, TMS) δ ppm: 164.07, 162.88, 136.85, 132.78, 131.64, 131.23, 127.69, 127.09, 126.77, 125.83, 115.61, 112.65, 41.29, 40.57, 39.84, 31.75, 29.13, 27.98, 27.01, 22.59, 14.02; ESI‐MS m/z (%): 551 [M+H]+; HRMS m/z (%): calc. for C32H31N4O5: 551.2300; found: 551.2289.

Spectroscopic Data of Compound NDI‐2

MP: 272 °C; FT‐IR (KBr, cm−1): 3281, 2920, 2233, 1702, and 1657; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3, n class="Chemical">TMS) δ ppm: 8.85–8.81(m, 4 H, J=7.62 Hz), 7.80 (s, 4 H,), 7.64–7.62 (brs, 1 H) 4.62–4.60 (t, 2 H, J=5.18 Hz), 4.23–4.20 (t, 2 H, J=7.62 Hz), 4.01–3.99 (t, 2 H), 1.77–1.70 (m, 2 H), 1.26 (m, 19 H), 0.89–0.86 (t, 3 H); 13C NMR (100, MHz, CDCl3, TMS) δ ppm: 164.27, 163.30, 132.99, 131.61, 127.75, 126.96, 125.86, 117.42, 115.61, 112.65, 41.59, 40.51, 39.99, 31.90, 29.61, 29.32, 27.93, 26.98, 22.67, 14.06; ESI‐MS m/z ‐ve mode, (%): 605 [M‐1]+; Elem. anal.: calculated: C: 71.27 %; H: 6.31 %; N: 9.23 %; Found: C: 68.47 %; H: 6.06 %; N: 7.53 %.

Spectroscopic Data of Compound NDI‐3

MP: 270 °C; FT‐IR (KBr, cm−1): 3413, 3280, 2917, 2233, 1702, and 1657; 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3, n class="Chemical">TMS) δ ppm: 8.84–8.80 (m, 4 H, J=7.62 Hz), 7.80 (s, 4 H), 7.60 (brs, 1 H) 4.62–4.60 (t, 2 H, J=5.18 Hz), 4.23–4.19 (t, 2 H, J=7.62 Hz), 4.00–3.38 (t, 2 H), 1.73 (m, 2 H), 1.25 (m, 26 H), 0.88–0.86 (t, 3 H); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3, TMS) δ ppm : 164.25, 163.27, 136.77, 132.96, 131.59, 131.88, 127.75, 126.95, 125.84, 118.62, 115.79, 112.96, 110.13, 41.57, 40.48, 39.98, 31.91, 29.68, 29.24, 27.94, 26.99, 22.68, 14.06; ESI‐MS m/z [%, ‐ve mode]: 662 [M‐]+; Elem. anal.: Calculated C: 72.48 %; H: 7.00 %; N: 8.45 %; found C: 70.32 %; H: 6.97 %; N: 8.36 %.

Synthesis of NDI‐4

NDA (0.5 g, 0.0018 mol) and 4‐amino benzon class="Chemical">nitrile (1.2 equiv) were added to a 50 mL round‐bottom flask containing dry DMF (15 mL), which was refluxed until a clear solution was obtained; then, aliphatic amine (1.0 equiv) was added to the reaction mixture and refluxed for a further 12 h under a N2 atmosphere. Completion of the reaction was monitored by TLC, following which the reaction mixture was cooled at room temperature to yield a solid, which was filtered and the residue was washed with MeOH to get the crude product. This was further purified by column chromatography using DCM/hexane (95:5, v/v) as the eluent to obtain a pure white solid NDI‐4 (0.39 g) in 46 % yield.

For the synthesis of NDI‐5 and NDI‐6, the same experimental procedure described for the preparation of NDI‐4 was employed.

Spectroscopic Data of Compound NDI‐4

MP: 275 °C; FT‐IR (KBr, cm−1): 2921, 2232, 1706, 1661; 1H‐NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3, n class="Chemical">TMS) δ ppm: 8.81 (s, 4 H), 7.89–7.87 (d, 2 H, J=8.54 Hz) 7.49–7.48 (d, 2 H, J=8.54 Hz), 4.22–4.19 (t, 2 H), 1.79–1.73 (m, 2 H), 1.25 (m, 10 H), 0.89–0.86 (t, 3 H); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3, TMS) δ ppm: 162.56, 133.29, 131.57, 130.99, 129.86, 127.24, 126.05, 117.96, 113.22, 41.07, 31.73, 29.64, 29.11, 28.01, 27.02, 22.57, 14.08; ESI‐MS m/z (%) : 480 [M+H]+;Elem. anal.: Calculated: C: 72.64 %; H: 5.25 %; N: 8.76 %; Found: C: 72.35 %; H: 5.69 %; N: 8.10 %.

Spectroscopic Data of Compound NDI‐5

MP: 290 °C; FT‐IR (KBr, cm−1): 2920, 2228, 1703, 1660; 1H‐NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, n class="Chemical">TMS) δ ppm: 8.82 (s, 4 H), 7.90–7.87 (d, 2 H, J=8.39 Hz) 7.50–7.47 (d, 2 H, J=8.39 Hz), 4.23–4.18 (t, 2 H), 1.80–1.71 (m, 2 H), 1.25 (m, 19 H), 0.90–0.85 (t, 3 H); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3, TMS) δppm: 162.25, 131.61, 133.30, 131.02, 129.89, 127.32, 126.11, 117.96, 113.28, 41.12, 31.90, 29.67, 29.30, 28.06, 27.07, 22.66, 14.09; ESI‐MS m/z (%): 535 [M+]+; Elem. anal.: Calculated: C: 76.38 %; H: 6.41 %; N: 5.24 %; Found C: 72.56 %; H: 6.23 %; N: 8.19 %.

Spectroscopic Data of Compound NDI‐6

MP: 265 °C; FT‐IR (KBr, cm−1): 2919, 2225, 1703, 1661; 1H‐NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3, n class="Chemical">TMS): δ ppm: 8.81 (s, 4 H), 7.89–7.87 (d, 2 H, J=8.39 Hz) 7.49–7.47 (d, 2 H, J=8.39 Hz), 4.22–4.19 (t, 2 H), 1.79–1.73 (m, 2 H), 1.25 (m, 26 H), 0.89–0.86 (t, 3 H); 13C NMR (75 MHz, CDCl3, TMS) δppm: 162.53, 133.30, 131.61, 131.02, 129.86, 117.96, 113.25, 41.10, 31.88, 29.63, 29.32, 27.02, 22.6690, 14.08; ESI‐MS m/z (%): 590 [M+]+; Elem. anal.: Calculated: C: 75.10 %; H: 6.98 %; N: 5,24 %; Found C: 73.04 %; H: 7.04 %; N: 6.44 %.

UV/Vis Absorption Spectral Measurements

UV/Vis spectra were recorded by using a Shimadzu UV‐1800 spectrophotometer at room temperature. UV/Vis experiments were run in a 3 mL quartz cuvette.

Film Preparation for UV/Vis Measurements

For recording solid‐state UV/Vis spectra of thin films, the solution was drop‐cast onto a glass substrate and allowed to dry for 5 mins under high vacuum at 40 °C prior to the measurements. The film thickness was varied by changing the concentration of the solution.

Fluorescence Measurements

All fluorescence emission experiments were measured in a quartz cell with a 1 cm path length and 355 nm excitation wavelength.

Film Preparation for Fluorescence Measurements

For recording solid‐state fluorescence emission spectra of thin films, solutions of the NDI derivatives 1×10−5  m were prepared in THF. The solution was drop‐cast onto a quartz substrate and allowed to dry for 5 mins under high vacuum at 40 °C prior to the measurements.

CV Experiments

Cyclic voltammograms of NDI‐1 to NDI‐6 amphiphiles in THF (1×10−5  m) were recorded under n class="Chemical">nitrogen atmosphere with a scan rate of 50 mV s−1, 0.1 m Bu4 NHClO4 supporting electrolyte, a Pt disk working electrode, a Pt wire counter electrode, and a saturated calomel reference electrode.

DSC

The phase‐transition temperatures and associated enthalpies were recorded on a PerkinElmer Pyris‐1 differential scanning calorimetry system with a heating/cooling rate of 5 °C min−1.

POM

The LC properties were observed and characterized by using POM (Nikon optiphot‐2‐ pol microscope attached to a hot and cold stage HCS402, with an STC200 temperature controller configured for HCS402 from INSTEC Inc. USA).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary

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