Synthesis and mesomorphic behaviour of novel discotic meso‐tetra(3,4,5‐n‐trialkoxybenzoylaminophenyl)porphyrins

Novel porphyrin derivatives with twelve flexible alkyl chains, namely meso‐tetra[4‐(3,4,5‐n‐trialkoxybenzoylamino)phenyl]porphyrins (1a, n = 12; 1b, n = 16) and the zinc complex (2a) were synthesized. The mesomorphic properties were investigated by DSC, WAXD and polarizing optical microscopy; the results showed that 1a and 2a exhibit a pseudo‐hexagonal columnar phase, and 1b a rectangular (Col) phase over a wide temperature range including room temperature.