Unique block molecules based on glycerol skeleton as C‐3 building blocks for liquid crystals formation by self‐assembly and their future potential for the “nano‐chemistry”

Abstract

Studies on design of liquid crystalline block molecules with non-conventional mesophase morphoplogies have been proposed by Tschierske and co-workers. These block molecules have a rigid core, a lateral substituent, and an alkyl chain segmenting blocks from each other. Related to this, diglyceryl alkyl ethers found by us have glycerol as a rigid core, a lateral substituent, and an alkyl chain similar to the Tschierske design. These two cases are compared with each other with regard to the relationship between the molecular structure and the liquid crystalline morphologies and other properties. Recently, new soft materials suitable for liquid crystals exhibiting self-assembly of phase-segregated structures have been designed. Typical examples of such "block" molecules containing glycerol having a C-3 building block include: (i) undecyl-glycerylether-modified siloxane derivatives with a siloxane segment as the rigid core and alkyl chains with 2,3-dihydroxypropoxy group as a hydrophilic group at a lateral or terminal position of the siloxane segment; (ii) novel hyper branched dendrimers forming the basis of polyglycerol nanocapsules with a core-shell molecular architecture; (iii) carbon nanotubes based on cyclodextrins (CDs); (iv) polymerizable amphiphilic diacetylene-containing phospholipids suitable for construction of functional nanocomposites. This is done by self-assembly and polymerization of diacetylene creating a "block molecular structure" with a polyacetylene chain as a rigid core segment, the lipid headgroups as the hydrophilic segment, and terminal flexible alkyl chains. On the basis of these results, future potential of block molecules as a soft building material for liquid crystalline structures was discussed.

Glycerol Ether Synthesis: A Bench Test for Green Chemistry Concepts and Technologies

“…GMEs are also used as emulsifiers and in liquid detergent compositions. − They are present in the formulation of inks, , herbicides, polymers, , and lubricants . Furthermore, glycerol diethers increase performance as fuel additives. , Finally, this class of compound can also be used as intermediates in the preparation of chemicals or materials, for example, 1,3-dioxolan-2-ones, urethanes, hydrogels, and ionic surfactants. − …”

Oligo-glycerol based non-ionic amphiphilic nanocarriers for lipase mediated controlled drug release

“…The use of monomers leads to the formation of low molecular weight reaction products, which adversely affects the properties of the macromolecular compounds. 24,25 In contrast, glycerol oligomers may be used as superior building blocks for the synthesis of supramolecular architectures in polycondensation or polymerization reactions. The oligomers of glycerol such as di-, tri-and tetraglycerol have been well studied for various applications such as emulsier, thickeners, and antifogging agents, etc.…”

Chemo-Enzymatic Synthesis of Oligoglycerol Derivatives

“…Glycerol oligomers may also be considered as superior building blocks for polymerization or polycondensation reactions in comparison to the monomer as the latter leads to low molecular weight reaction products which have a considerable effect on the properties of the macromolecular compounds. The preparation of polymers based on the conversion of oligomerss into macromolecular compounds is emerging as an interesting line of development in the synthesis of polymers [20,21]. Such a method is associated with the synthesis of oligomers with reactive groups at the ends of the molecules.…”