Liquid Crystal Crown Ethers and Related Compounds

Liquid crystalline crown ethers, which are characterized by their diversity and mesomorphic properties, are intensively studied particularly with respect to their ability to complex metal salts. In this chapter, selected examples of crown ether containing liquid crystals are discussed with focus on two aspects, namely, (i) how does a crown ether influence the thermal properties and (ii) how do complexed salts alter the thermal behavior. Keywords: separated local field; X-ray diffraction; tubular; metallomesogen; monotropic nematic phase; crown ether