Molecular engineering of liquid crystalline derivatives of 6-oxoverdazyl

6-Oxoverdazyl, a π-delocalized stable radical, is considered a central structural element of paramagnetic selforganizing materials. The three available positions on the heterocycle can be substituted with wedge-shaped or rod-like groups in combination with a small substituent, which leads to different molecular architectures and diverse organization of the mesophase. Several of these architectures have been realized experimentally and materials exhibiting columnar and calamitic phases have been obtained. Compounds with some other combination of substituents did not exhibit liquid crystalline behavior. The analysis also indicates some new molecular architectures potentially suitable for the formation of liquid crystalline phases. Finally, results on magnetic susceptibility and photovoltaic measurements of the discotic derivatives are discussed.