Star Mesogens (Hekates)—Tailor‐Made Molecules for Programming Supramolecular Functionality

Hekates : Modular synthesis of star‐shaped molecules affords mesogens with various functional units and incompatible peripheral chains (see figure). The supramolecular order in the complex, soft, liquid‐crystalline, functional materials can be programmed by variation of the elements of diversity at a meso‐ and nanoscale.This concept article focuses on the simplest branched liquid crystalline (LC) molecules—the three‐armed mesogens with arms symmetrically linked to the core. They are basic but fascinating mesogens for the exploration of self‐assembling processes into complex, functional, soft materials. Quite a large number of elements of diversity provide the possibility to synthetically program such star‐shaped molecules and to control phase formation, if aggregation processes are fully understood. Recently, ABC‐cores opened the way to non‐symmetric mesogens and, therefore, to the concept of multifunctional materials with defined nanostructures. In the article this outstanding family of mesogens is classified, their peculiar molecular structure and self‐assembly are discussed and potential applications are presented, in which this type of mesogen may be beneficial.