The “Wheel of Mainz” as a Liquid Crystal?—Structural Variation and Mesophase Properties of Trimeric Discotic Compounds

Three molecular combinations, each consisting of two disk-shaped (tripheny-lene units) and one rod-shaped mesogen (azobenzene- and azobophenyl-units) were synthesized with the aim of generating new liquid crystal phases. Two molecular geometries were realized thereby. The trimesogen 1 with laterally fixed rod-like mesogen (“Wheel of Mainz”) crystallizes unexpectedly well, while another trimesogen with terminally fixed rod-like mesogen leads to a novel liquid-crystal phase.