Liquid crystals based on orthogonal dynamic covalent bonds – Towards the design of adaptive Materials

• Applicant: Professor Michael Giese, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 572082851

Dynamic covalent bonds combine the reversibility and adaptability of supramolecular systems with the robustness of covalent bonds, making them highly suitable for the development of new adaptive and responsive materials. In the scope of this proposal, various orthogonal dynamic covalent bonding motifs (e.g., imines, boronic esters, azines, or acylhydrazones) will be combined with each other in order to specifically control the properties (such as liquid crystalline behavior, photoswitchability, emission characteristics, chirality) of the material systems. The implementation of dynamic covalent reactions in the liquid crystalline phase offers the possibility to produce modified materials without the need for solvents or purification steps. To ensure a resource- and time-efficient approach, computer-assisted design will be employed to identify the molecular components. The following scientific questions will be addressed: Do the orthogonal dynamic covalent bonds truly operate independently of one another? Can the properties of the systems be selectively and independently controlled? How do the exchange reactions and their equilibria differ in solution compared to those in the liquid crystalline phase? Are methods such as microwave-assisted synthesis or ball milling suitable for carrying out the exchange experiments, and how do the resulting equilibrium states differ, if at all? A modular approach will be used for the systematic investigation, enabling insight into the structure–property relationships of the systems while also ensuring the sustainable scalability of the functional materials. This is intended to open up application areas in fields such as 3D printing, photonic sensors, or optical data storage.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants