Superfluorinated ionic liquid crystals based on supramolecular, halogen-bonded anions

Unconventional ionic liquid crystals in which the liquid crystallinity is enabled by halogen-bonded supramolecular anions [CnF2 n+1-I⋯I⋯I-CnF2 n+1]- are reported. The material system is unique in many ways, demonstrating for the first time 1) ionic, halogen-bonded liquid crystals, and 2) imidazolium-based ionic liquid crystals in which the occurrence of liquid crystallinity is not driven by the alkyl chains of the cation. Out of the ordinary: The high directionality of halogen bonds and the fluorophobic effect were exploited in the design and synthesis of a new family of unconventional superfluorinated ionic liquid crystals. The liquid crystallinity of the system is driven by halogen-bonded supramolecular anions [CnF2 n+1-I⋯I⋯I-CnF2 n+1]- which act as rigid rod-like calamitic units.