Carbohydrate liquid crystals: Synthesis and characterisation of the methyl-6-O-(n-acyl)-α-d-glucopyranosides

Sugar-Based Surfactants: Effects of Structural Features on the Physicochemical Properties of Sugar Esters and Their Comparison to Commercial Octyl Glycosides

Two series of sugar esters with alkyl chain lengths varying from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, and with a head group consisting of glucose or galactose moieties, were synthesized. Equilibrium surface tension isotherms were measured, yielding critical micellar concentration (CMC) surface tensions at CMC (γcmc) and minimum areas at the air-water interface (Amin). In addition, Krafft temperatures (Tks) were measured to characterize the ability of molecules to dissolve in water, which is essential in numerous applications. As a comparison to widely used commercial sugar-based surfactants, those measurements were also carried out for four octyl d-glycosides. Impacts of the linkages between polar and lipophilic moieties, alkyl chain lengths, and the nature of the sugar head group on the measured properties were highlighted. Higher Tk and, thus, lower dissolution ability, were found for methyl 6-O-acyl-d-glucopyranosides. CMC and γcmc decreased with the alkyl chain lengths in both cases, but Amin did not appear to be influenced. Both γcmc and Amin appeared independent of the ester group orientation. Notably, alkyl (methyl α-d-glucopyranosid)uronates were found to result in noticeably lower CMC, possibly due to a closer distance between the carbonyl function and the head group.

Stereochemistry-dependent thermotropic liquid crystalline phases of monosaccharide-based amphiphiles

Conformational rigidity controls the bulk self-assembly and liquid crystallinity from amphiphilic block molecules to copolymers. The effects of block stereochemistry on the self-assembly have, however, been less explored. Here, we have investigated amphiphilic block molecules involving eight open-chain monosaccharide-based polyol units possessing different stereochemistries, derived from D-glucose, D-galactose, L-arabinose, D-mannose and L-rhamnose (allylated monosaccharides t-Glc*, e-Glc*, t-Gal*, e-Gal*, t-Ara*, e-Ara*, t-Man*, and t-Rha*), end-functionalized with repulsive tetradecyl alkyl chain blocks to form well-defined amphiphiles with block molecule structures. All compounds studied showed low temperature crystalline phases due to polyol crystallization, and smectic (lamellar) and isotropic phases upon heating in bulk. Hexagonal cylindrical phase was additionally observed for the composition involving t-Man*. Cubic phases were observed for e-Glc*, e-Gal*, e-Ara*, and t-Rha* derived compounds. Therein, the rich array of WAXS-reflections suggested that the crystalline polyol domains are not ultra-confined in spheres as in classic cubic phases but instead show network-like phase continuity, which is rare in bulk liquid crystals. Importantly, the transition temperatures of the self-assemblies were observed to depend strongly on the polyol stereochemistry. The findings underpin that the stereochemistry in carbohydrate-based assemblies involves complexity, which is an important parameter to be considered in material design when developing self-assemblies for different functions.

MAS NMR Investigation of Molecular Order in an Ionic Liquid Crystal

The structure and molecular order in the thermotropic ionic liquid crystal (ILC), [choline][geranate(H)octanoate], an analogue of Choline And GEranate (CAGE), which has potential for use as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial and transdermal and oral delivery agent, were investigated by magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), polarizing optical microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and mass spectrometry. Mass spectrometry and the ¹H NMR chemical shift reveal that CAGE-oct is a dynamic system, with metathesis (the exchange of interacting ions) and hydrogen exchange occurring between hydrogen-bonded/ionic complexes such as [(choline)(geranate)(H)(octanoate)], [(choline)(octanoate)₂(H)], and [(choline)(geranate)₂(H)]. These clusters, which are shown by mass spectrometry to be significantly more stable than expected for typical electrostatic ion clusters, involve hydrogen bonding between the carboxylic acid, carboxylate, and hydroxyl groups, with rapid hydrogen bond breaking and re-formation observed to average the ¹H chemical shifts. The formation of a partial bilayer liquid crystal (LC) phase was identified by SAXS and polarizing optical microscopy at temperatures below ∼293 K. The occurrence of this transition close to room temperature could be utilized as a potential temperature-induced "switch" of the anisotropic properties for particular applications. The presence of an isotropic component of approximately 23% was observed to coexist with the LC phase, as detected by polarizing optical microscopy and quantified by both ¹H-¹³C dipolar-chemical shift correlation (DIPSHIFT) and ¹H double-quantum (DQ) MAS NMR experiments. At temperatures above the LC-to-isotropic transition, intermediate-range order (clustering of polar and nonpolar domains), a feature of many ILs, persists. Site-specific order parameters for the LC phase of CAGE-oct were obtained from the MAS NMR measurement of the partially averaged ¹³C-¹H dipolar couplings (D_CH) by cross-polarization (CP) build-up curves and DIPSHIFT experiments, and ¹H-¹H dipolar couplings (D_HH) by double-quantum (DQ) build-up curves. The corresponding order parameters, S_CH and S_HH, are in the range 0-0.2 and are lower compared to those for smectic (i.e., layered) phases of conventional nonionic liquid crystals, resembling those of lamellar phases formed by lyotropic surfactant-solvent systems.

Ionic Liquid Crystals: Versatile Materials

This Review covers the recent developments (2005-2015) in the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of thermotropic ionic liquid crystals. It was designed to give a comprehensive overview of the "state-of-the-art" in the field. The discussion is focused on low molar mass and dendrimeric thermotropic ionic mesogens, as well as selected metal-containing compounds (metallomesogens), but some references to polymeric and/or lyotropic ionic liquid crystals and particularly to ionic liquids will also be provided. Although zwitterionic and mesoionic mesogens are also treated to some extent, emphasis will be directed toward liquid-crystalline materials consisting of organic cations and organic/inorganic anions that are not covalently bound but interact via electrostatic and other noncovalent interactions.

Thermotropic and lyotropic behaviour of new liquid-crystalline materials with different hydrophilic groups: synthesis and mesomorphic properties

Several new calamitic liquid-crystalline (LC) materials with flexible hydrophilic chains, namely either hydroxy groups or ethylene glycol units, or both types together, have been synthesized in order to look for new functional LC materials exhibiting both, thermotropic and lyotropic behaviour. Such materials are of high potential interest for challenging issues such as the self-organization of carbon nanotubes or various nanoparticles. Thermotropic mesomorphic properties have been studied by using polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray scattering. Four of these nonchiral and chiral materials exhibit nematic and chiral nematic phases, respectively. For some molecular structures, smectic phases have also been detected. A contact sample of one of the prepared compounds with diethylene glycol clearly shows the lyotropic behaviour; namely a lamellar phase was observed. The relationship between the molecular structure and mesomorphic properties of these new LCs with hydrophilic chains is discussed.

Physicochemical characterization of natural-like branched-chain glycosides toward formation of hexosomes and vesicles

Synthetic branched-chain glycolipids have become of great interest in biomimicking research, since they provide a suitable alternative for natural glycolipids, which are difficult to extract from natural resources. Therefore, branched-chain glycolipids obtained by direct syntheses are of utmost interest. In this work, two new branched-chain glycolipids are presented, namely, 2-hexyldecyl β(α)-D-glucoside (2-HDG) and 2-hexyldecyl β(α)-D-maltoside (2-HDM) based on glucose and maltose, respectively. The self-assembly properties of these glycolipids have been studied, observing the phase behavior under thermotropic and lyotropic conditions. Due to their amphiphilic characteristics, 2-HDG and 2-HDM possess rich phase behavior in dry form and in aqueous dispersions. In the thermotropic study, 2-HDG formed a columnar hexagonal liquid crystalline phase, whereas in a binary aqueous system, 2-HDG formed an inverted hexagonal liquid crystalline phase in equilibrium with excess aqueous solution. Furthermore, aqueous dispersions of the hexagonal liquid crystal could be obtained, dispersions known as hexosomes. On the other hand, 2-HDM formed a lamellar liquid crystalline phase (smectic A) in thermotropic conditions, whereas multilamellar vesicles have been observed in equilibrium with aqueous media. Surprisingly, 2-HDM mixed with sodium dodecyl sulfate or aerosol OT induced the formation of more stable unilamellar vesicles. Thus, the branched-chain glycolipids 2-HDG and 2-HDM not only provided alternative nonionic surfactants with rich phase behavior and versatile nanostructures, but also could be used as new drug carrier systems in the future.

Observation of liquid-crystal formation during melting of D-(+)-glucose

Liquid crystals, observed as maltese crosses under cross-polarized light, form in D-(+)-glucose immediately upon melting, at ∼416 K, and become an isotropic liquid at ∼500 K. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results show two overlapping endothermic peaks corresponding to the formation and disappearance of the liquid crystals. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed that D-(+)-glucose undergoes thermal decomposition upon melting. Cooling and reheating isotropic samples previously heated to 500 K do not lead to the reappearance of the liquid crystals. The formation of liquid crystals is irreversible. Further study is required to determine which components among the decomposition intermediates or products of D-(+)-glucose are responsible for the formation of liquid crystals and whether they have process or product applications.