Discotic Liquid Crystalline Phenazine Derivatives

Phenazines, otherwise known as dibenzo-annulated pyrazines, are a unique class of tricyclic organic molecules. They are chemically stable and highly aromatic due to their extended conjugation. Along with their biomedicinal significance, phenazines often play a major role in manipulating the optical as well as electrical properties of organic semiconductors. The planar structure in the heterocyclic aromatic phenazines and their natural inclination to form stacked columns due to the π-π interactions between two consecutive molecules have made them quite a suitable moiety for the formation as well as extension of the core part of discotic liquid crystals (DLCs). Their efficient charge-carrying ability makes them well-suited for organic electronic materials. Furthermore, their properties can be fine-tuned with simple chemical changes, rendering them appropriate for many advanced applications. This review focuses on the chemistry of phenazine-based DLCs and their significance in optoelectronic applications.