Bulk Inclusions of Pyridazine‐Based Molecular Rotors in Tris(o‐phenylenedioxy)cyclotriphosphazene (TPP)

A new class of rod-shaped strongly dipolar molecular rotors for insertion into channels of hexagonal tris(o-phenylenedioxy)cyclotriphosphazene (TPP) has been examined. Seven different 3,6-disubstituted pyridazines and one singly 3-substituted system have been prepared and studied by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray powder diffraction, and dielectric spectroscopy. NMR and X-ray diffraction both show that all but one of these molecular rotors form hexagonal bulk inclusion compounds with TPP. In-plane lattice parameters for the hexagonal phases increase with the size of the end group, which also controls the energy barriers for rotation of the pyridazine dipole. The barriers range from ≈4 kcal mol−1 for small or flexible end groups to less than 0.7 kcal mol−1 for 3-methylbicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl end groups after annealing to 235 °C, and an interpretation of these differences is offered. Computer modeling of the relaxed TPP channels followed by density functional calculation of the environment for one of the rotors provides quantitative agreement with the observed barrier. The systems with the lowest rotational barriers show signs of collective behavior, discussed in terms of antiferroelectric intrachannel and ferroelectric interchannel dipole–dipole interactions. A Curie temperature of 22 K is deduced for 3,6-diadamant-1′-ylpyridazine, but no ordered dielectric phases are found. Conclusions have been drawn for improved rotor design.