Rufigallol-based self-assembled supramolecular architectures

Discotic liquid crystals have been attracting growing interest not only because of the fundamental importance as model systems for the study of charge and energy transport but also due to their potential application in organic electronic devices. The 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone, commonly known as rufigallol, is one of the earliest systems reported to form columnar mesophases. Over the past 25 years, more than 100 discotic liquid crystals based on this core have been realized and studied for various physical properties. This review summarizes synthesis and thermal behaviour of all these materials. A brief summary of various physical studies on these materials has also been given.