Mono- and multilayer films of discotic metal-(alkythio)tetraazaporphyrins

We report on the use of a copper compound of 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis(octylthio)-5,10,15,20-tetraazaporphyrin for the fabrication of a spreading monolayer and Langmuir-Blodgett films. This compound, as a free ligand or metal substituted, gives mesogenic material with a discotic, columnar structure. Its structural and magnetic properties have been characterized by optical and ESR spectroscopies. The spreading monolayer was not homogeneous and use of a typical film-forming amphiphile, such as stearic acid, was necessary for obtaining stable, reproducible surface films, which were easily transferred onto quartz plates treated with dimethyldichlorosilane. The properties of the film were also analyzed with both UV-vis and ESR spectroscopies. The film did not show orientation order, and the discotic material maintained a columnar aggregate structure