Recent developments in the chemistry of triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystals

Triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystals, which have already been used commercially in phase compensation films to improve the viewing angle of liquid crystal display devices, also have application potential as one-dimensional charge carrier systems useful in electrical conduction, photoconduction, electroluminescence, photovoltaic solar cells, gas sensing, optical data storage and other devices. Over the past 25 years, more than 500 triphenylene derivatives have been synthesized to explore these possibilities. Cammidge and Bushby reviewed the chemistry and physical properties of about 100 triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystals prepared up to 1995. This review summarizes advances in the chemistry of triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystals since late 1995.