Preparation and liquid-crystalline properties of toluene-4-sulphonyl urethane of hydroxypropylcellulose

A novel liquid-crystalline polymer, the toluene-4-sulphonyl urethane of hydroxypropylcellulose (TSUHPC), was prepared through chemical modification of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) of M_w = 60000 g mol^-1. The resulting polymer was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing microscopy. It was found that thermotropic liquid crystal phases are formed between about 60°C and 110°C. Concentrated solutions of TSUHPC in acetone and N,N-dimethylacetamide exhibit cholesteric behaviour, at room temperature. When approaching the lyotropic mesophase to solid transition, either by cooling or by solvent evaporation, very interesting arborescent structures of a seemingly fractal nature may be observed, depending on the kinetics of the transition. A banded texture can be observed when the polymer is sheared near the transition to the isotropic phase.     

Liquid-crystalline bisadducts of [60]fullerene

A second-generation cyanobiphenyl-based dendrimer was used as a liquid-crystalline promoter to synthesize mesomorphic bisadducts of [60]fullerene. Liquid-crystalline trans-2, trans-3, and equatorial bisadducts were obtained by condensation of the liquid-crystalline promoter, which carries a carboxylic acid function, with the corresponding bisaminofullerene derivatives. A monoadduct of fullerene was also prepared for comparative purposes. All the compounds gave rise to smectic A phases. An additional mesophase, which could not be identified, was observed for the trans-2 derivative. The supramolecular organization of the monoadduct derivative is governed by steric constraints. Indeed, for efficient space filling, adequacy between the cross-sectional areas of fullerene (approximately 100 A(2)) and of the mesogenic groups (approximately 22-25 A(2) per mesogenic group) is required. As a consequence, the monoadduct forms a bilayered smectic A phase. The supramolecular organization of the bisadducts is essentially governed by the nature and structure of the mesogenic groups and dendritic core. Therefore, the bisadducts form monolayered smectic A phases. The title compounds are promising supramolecular materials as they combine the self-organizing behavior of liquid crystals with the properties of fullerene.     

Phase-transition studies of 5O.5 and 9O.4

As part of our detailed comparative studies of groups of liquid-crystalline compounds that belong to a homologous series, we present phase-transition studies of the compounds N-(4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene)4'-n-pentylaniline (5O.5) and N-(4-n-nonyloxybenzylidene)4'-n-butylaniline (9O.4) using different experimental techniques. The compound 5O.5 is reported to exhibit a phase sequence N, S_A, S_C, S_B and S_G, while 90.4 shows the sequence S_A, S_F and S_G. The salient features of our work on 5O.5 are (i) a new smectic F phase is found in place of the reported smectic B phase, which is confirmed by both miscibility and X-ray studies; (ii) the formation of smectic-C-like short-range order in the nematic phase well above the S_A-N transition; and (iii) a large tilt-angle variation in the smectic C phase (0-23·5°C) in a small temperature range (4·1°C). The phase changes across the S_A-I transition, and for the first time across S_F-S_A transition, are carried out by volumetric studies. The detailed inferences of these are also presented.     

Solid-State polymerization of the binary mixture of methacrylate and liquid-crystalline compound by electron beam

Solid-state polymerization of a binary mixture of nonliquid-crystalline monomer and liquidcrystalline compound was carried out using electron beam. The monomers were benzoic acid containing 4-[ω-(meth)acryloyloxyalkyloxy] benzoic acids, in which the alkylene spacer was ethylene, hexamethylene, or undecamethylene. The conversion yield of monomer to polymer to a large extent increased with increasing content of a liquid-crystalline compound with a terminal carboxylic group, such as 4-n-alkyloxybenzoic acid, while the addition of a liquid-crystalline compound without terminal carboxylic group did not affect polymerization of the monomer. Phase diagrams of the mixture of monomer and liquid-crystalline compound were examined using cross-polarizing microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All mixtures of monomer and 4-n-alkyloxybenzoic acid or liquid-crystalline compound without terminal carboxylic group showed liquid-crystallinity in a broad composition range. It was concluded that liquid-crystalline compounds with terminal carboxylic acid may form hydrogen bondings with methacrylate or acrylate monomer having terminal carboxylic acid which enhance polymerizability of the mixture. The stereoregularity of polymers determined by NMR depended on increasing irradiation dose and temperature rather than the content of the added liquid-crystalline 4-n-decanoxybenzoic acid.     

Physical properties of diglycerol esters in relation to rheology and stability of protein-stabilised emulsions

The surface activity and lyotropic phase behaviour of concentrated diglycerol-esters of fatty acids with chain length of C14, C16, C18 and C18:1 (cis-oleic acid) are investigated. Diglycerol-esters show a much stronger reduction in the interfacial tension at a low concentration (0.01–0.1%) than corresponding monoglycerides. The diglycerol-esters form lamellar mesophases above their Krafft point, and no other types of mesophases are found in the temperature region examined (0–80°C). The lamellar phases show a limited swelling capacity, corresponding to a water layer thickness of ≈24 Å, which is found when the ratio of diglycerol-ester to water is 60:40, or lower. At high water concentrations (>90%) multi-lamellar liposomes are formed. The diglycerol-monooleate form lamellar phases in water in the temperature region from zero to 80°C. This is in strong contrast to the corresponding glycerol-monooleate, which forms cubic and reversed hexagonal mesophases in water. Oil in water emulsions are stabilised by diglycerol-esters by formation of liquid crystalline interfacial films around the oil droplets, which can be seen in polarised light microscopy. In presence of milk proteins in the aqueous phase the emulsion stability is depending on the protein to emulsifier ratio. At 40°C a mixed interfacial film of diglycerol-monooleate (DIGMO) and protein is present at the oil–water interface, but when cooled to 5°C, the proteins are displaced by DIGMO. This behaviour affects the stability and rheological properties of emulsions stored at low temperatures.     

Discotic charge transfer twins Structure and mesophase behaviour of covalently linked triphenylenes and trinitrofluorenones

Discotic charge transfer twins, a novel class of discotic liquid-crystalline compounds were studied. These compounds consist of triphenylene units (as donors) which are chemically linked via flexible spacers of various lengths to trinitrofluorenone units (acting as acceptor). They display a liquid-crystalline phase over a wide temperature range extending up to 240-260°C. Based on X-ray analysis a structural model is proposed for the liquid-crystalline phase: the molecules are arranged in columns in such a way that mixed stacks occur, the intercolumnar packing possesses an orthorhombic symmetry. The neighbouring columns are connected along specific directions via flexible spacers which give rise to highly anisotropic structural properties of this columnar liquid-crystalline phase.     

Laser addressed thermo-optic effect in a novel dyed liquid-crystalline polysiloxane

Initial experimental evaluation of a novel liquid-crystalline polysiloxane for thermo-optical recording is presented. A versatile system using a single laser source has been used to gather information on the dynamics of laser addressing. To ensure the most stable, highest-contrast pixel the polymer must be heated through its biphasic region and some way into the isotropic phase. It was found that at 60°C using laser pulses of 300μs or less, write-in and selective erasure times were on the submillisecond timescale, and that bulk erasure required 1-2 min. The use of the polymer in an analogue optical store has been demonstrated and an unoptimized sensitivity of 12nJ/μm² for 632°8 nm light was found at 24°C.     

Stabilization of the mesomorphic phase in a self-assembled two-component system

We reported here the two-component self-assembling building blocks capable of forming lyotropic liquid crystal and liquid-crystalline physical gel. One of the components has a molecular characteristic of C(3)-symmetrical trisureas containing three azobenzene groups, which can form liquid-crystal phase in a temperature range of 133-215 degrees C. Another one has a trisamide core, which can self-aggregate to fibrous network through hydrogen bonds of amide moieties. The mixture of these two components performs lyotropic liquid crystal as well as liquid-crystalline physical gel in a temperature range larger than that of sole compound, suggesting that the cooperation of hydrogen bonds between these components stabilizes the mesophase of the assembly. The mechanism of formation of the mesophase was investigated by infrared spectra and small-angle X-ray scatterings.     

Effects of catalysts on chlorination of propionic acid

Chlorination of propionic acid with molecular chlorine at 100–130° in the dark giving various chlorinated propionic acids has been studied. Information concerning the product distribution and the effect of some addenda on the distribution has been obtained. There seems to be a competition between the H atom abstraction by radicals and the addition to the enol of carboxylic acid ; the ratio of -chlorination, /( + β), increases in the presence of enolising catalyst such as H₂SO₄, HCl and FeCl₃. The radical scavengers such as m-dinitrobenzene increase the ratio of -chlorination and no chloro acid is formed on addition of more than 1 mol % m-dinitrobenzene in the absence of enolising catalyst. The addition of 3 mol % m-dinitrobenzene m the presence of 95 % H₂SO₄ yields only -chloro acid. The reaction at 120° in the presence of a radical scavenger gives mainly -chloro acid at an early stage and then ,-dichloro acid, the latter yield being 7·7% after 7 hr and 33·6% after 12 hr. The reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Functional isocyanide metal complexes as building blocks for supramolecular materials: hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals

Gold, palladium and platinum complexes with an unusual isocyanide ligand containing a carboxylic acid function, [AuCl(CNC(6)H(4)COOH)], cis-[MI(2)(CNC(6)H(4)COOH)(2)] and trans-[MI(2)(CNC(6)H(4)COOH)(2)] (M = Pd, Pt) have been isolated. The carboxylic acid group of the coordinated isocyanide acts as a hydrogen donor for hydrogen-bonding and three series of stable hydrogen-bonded liquid crystalline metal complexes have been prepared with decyloxystilbazole. Although all the metal acid derivatives used are not mesomorphic, and decyloxystilbazole only shows an ordered Smectic E phase, four out of the five hydrogen-bonded decyloxystilbazole complexes studied display enantiotropic smectic A or nematic mesophases. The single crystal X-ray diffraction structure of trans-[PdI(2)(CNC(6)H(4)COOH)(2)].C(4)H(8)O(2) has been determined and confirms the formation of a supramolecular array in the solid state supported by hydrogen-bonding.     

Three-phase extraction study of cyanex 923-n-heptane/H(2)SO(4) system

Phase behavior of the extraction system, Cyanex 923–heptane/H₂SO₄–H₂O has been studied. The third phase appeared at different aqueous H₂SO₄ concentration with varying initial Cyanex 923 concentration and temperature affects its appearance. Almost all of H₂SO₄ and H₂O are extracted into the middle phase. The H₂SO₄ concentration in the third phase increases with the increasing aqueous acid concentration (C_H2SO4,b) while the water content first increases and then reaches a constant value at C_H2SO4,b=11.3 mol l⁻¹. In the region of C_H2SO4,b higher than 5.2 mol l⁻¹, the composition of the middle phase is only related to the equilibrium concentration of H₂SO₄ in the bottom phase. H₂SO₄ and H₂O are transferred into the middle phase mainly by their coordination with Cyanex 923 when C_H2SO4,b is less than 11.3 mol l⁻¹. When C_H2SO4,b is higher than 11.3 mol l⁻¹, excess H₂SO₄ is solubilized into the polar layer of the aggregates. In the region considered, the extracted complex changes from C923 · H₂SO₄ to C923 · H₂SO₄ · H₂O and then to C923 · (H₂SO₄)₂ · H₂O.     

Fast switching ferroelectric side-chain liquid-crystalline polymer and copolymer

New ferroelectric side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers, a copolymer and a homopolymer, with siloxane backbone and a triaromatic mesogen as the side group have been synthesized. The materials exhibit a chiral smectic C phase over a large temperature range extending to room temperature. They possess high values of spontaneous polarization: 105 nC cm^-2 for the homopolymer and 180 nC cm^-2 for the copolymer. The electro-optic switching time in the chiral smectic C phase is extremely fast (150 μs). In the smectic A phase, an electroclinic effect with switching times less than 100 μs and with field induced tilt angles of 18° is observed.     

The liquid-crystalline properties of selected cellulose derivatives

The liquid-crystalline properties of three cellulose esters, phenylacetoxy cellulose (PAC), 4-methoxyphenylacetoxy cellulose (4MPAC), and p-tolylacetoxy cellulose (TAC) and two cellulose silyl ethers, trimethyl silyl cellulose (TMSC) and t-butyldimethylsilyl cellulose (TBDMSC), are reported. Hot-stage polarized light microscopy provided evidence regarding the formation of thermotropic mesophases in the PAC, 4MPAC, TAC, and TMSC in bulk form upon heating. The concomitant DSC data showed further evidence of the thermotropic nature of these materials. PAC, 4MPAC, TAC, and TMSC formed lyotropic mesophases at 44, 48, 50, and 27 wt%, respectively in CH₂Cl₂. The presence of fingerprint patterns in wholly anisotropic solutions in conjunction with optical rotation measurements confirmed the cholesteric nature of these liquid crystalline solutions. TBDMSC formed neither a lyotropic nor a thermotropic liquid-crystalline phase due to the low degree of substitution (DS 0.68) of this derivative. The hydroxyl substituents of PAC, 4MPAC, TAC, and TMSC may be readily removed under mild conditions to regenerate cellulose.     

掺杂聚苯胺溶致液晶相的产生和表征

聚苯胺（PAN）具有共轭结构,从理论上满足形成液晶相的基本条件［1,2］．但由于聚苯胺难溶、难熔,长期以来对于聚苯胺溶液（尤其是浓溶液）或熔体的研究甚少．近年来,人们采用具有“增塑作用”的大分子功能质子酸对聚苯胺进行掺杂,获得可溶于多种有机溶剂中的掺杂态聚苯胺［3～5］．然而,聚苯胺溶液的结构与性能的特点及能否产生溶致液晶相等问题目前尚未见报道．为此,我们研究了十二烷基苯磺酸（DBSA）掺杂聚苯胺在有机溶剂中形成液晶相的条件,探讨了不同掺杂方法对PAN－DBSA的溶解性及形成液晶棺的影响;采用差式扫描量热分…     

The thermotropic and lyotropic liquid-crystalline properties of acetoacetoxypropyl cellulose

Acetoacetoxypropyl cellulose, formed by the acetoacetylation of hydroxypropyl cellulose using a diketene/acetone adduct at elevated temperature, forms both thermotropic and lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases. DSC and hot-stage polarized light microscopy confirmed the thermotropic nature of the bulk polymer. Thin layers showed green reflection colors at room temperature. The wavelength λ₀ of selective reflection was measured spectrophotometrically. The crystalline structure of the polymer was investigated using x-ray diffraction. A lyotropic mesophase formed in acetic acid at ≥ 40 wt% polymer. The value of λ₀ for the lyotropic cholesteric mesophase was determined by optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and circular dichroism (CD) of a thin layer of a wholly anisotropic solution.     

Preparation of new supramolecular liquid-crystalline polyesters containing 3-chloro-4-(alkoxy)benzoic acids

Supramolecular liquid-crystalline polyester complexes based on intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic group and the pyridyl moieties was prepared by using non-liquid-crystalline H-donors, [3-chloro-4-(butyloxy)benzoic acid (2a), 3-chloro-4-(octyloxy)benzoic acid (2b), 3-chloro-4-(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid (2c) and 3-chloro-4-(tetradecyloxy)benzoic acid (2d)] and H-acceptor-polyester containing pyridyl units. Intermolecular hydrogen bond formation was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The liquid-crystalline behavior of the complex formed was established by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). The polyester complexes containing 2c and 2d donor components exhibit liquid crystalline mesophase and behave as side-chain liquid-crystalline polymers. Compared with unsubstituted parent acid, the presence of chloro group as a lateral substituent has a little negative effect on the induction of liquid crystallinity on the polyester complexes systems. The results show that the more stability of the obtained H-bonded complexes in comparison with analogues without 3-Cl substituents is due to the increased acidity of benzoic acid moiety.     

The temperature dependence of the two positronium bubble states in liquid SF6

Positron lifetime measurements have been performed on liquid SF₆ in the temperature range from −45°C to 71°C (T_c = 45.65°C). The positron lifetime spectra were resolved into four lifetime components. In the order of increasing lifetimes the four lifetime components are associated with the decay of para-positronium (p-Ps), free positrons, ortho-positronium (o-Ps) from a small bubble state, and o-Ps from a large bubble state. The lifetime of o-Ps annihilating from the large bubble state τ₄ increases from 5.7 ns at −45°C to 19.5 ns at 53°C. The lifetime of o-Ps annihilating from the small bubble state τ₃ was found to be 2–2.5 ns in the main part of the temperature range studied. Apparently, this is the first observation of two different o-Ps states in a liquid. The intensity I₄ (I₃) increases (decreases) from 16.9% (16%) at −45°C to 47.2% (6.4%) at the critical point while above I₃ and I₄ are essentially temperature independent. The large Ps bubble state seems to be similar to the Ps bubble state found in most liquids.     

Dehydration of magnesium sulphate heptahydrate investigated by quasi isothermal—quasi isobaric TG

With the help of the quasi isothermal-quasi isobaric technique, completed with DTA and thermomicroscopic examinations, several new observations have been made regarding the dehydration process of MgSO₄ · 7 H₂O. It was found that under given conditions the material, first at 50°C and then at 95°C, melts in an incongruous way. In the course of the latter transformation, a ternary system consisting of solid MgSO₄ · 3 H₂O, a solution phase saturated with respect to the trihydrate, and a water vapour phase, is formed. The saturated solution reaches its boiling point at 105°C. Without any temperature change, the system loses four moles of water and solid MgSO₄ · 3 H₂O remains. This decomposes at 115°C and a mixture consisting of MgSO₄ · H₂O and MgSO₄ · 2 H₂O forms, the proportion of which depends on the experimental conditions. At 150°C, the latter compound loses one mole of water. The MgSO₄ · H₂O maintains constant weight up to 310°C, above which temperature the remaining water of crystallization is removed.     

Phase diagrams and microstructure of aggregates in mixed ionic surfactant/foam booster systems

The phase behavior and microstructure of surfactant systems containing a new alkanolamide-type foam booster, dodecanoyl N-methyl ethanolamide (NMEA-12), were investigated by means of phase study and small angle X-ray scattering. Different from other similar alkanolamides, NMEA-12 possesses a low melting point and forms a lyotropic liquid-crystalline phase (L(alpha) phase) at room temperature. This is attributed to the attached methyl group, which increases the fluidity of the molecule. In the SDS/NMEA-12/water system, hexagonal and lamellar (L(alpha)) liquid-crystalline phases are obtained at significantly low surfactant concentrations. The stability of these phases decreases when SDS is replaced with a nonionic surfactant (C12EO8). However, for both ionic and nonionic surfactants, the effective area per surfactant molecule at the interface shrinks upon addition of NMEA-12, indicating that the surfactant layer is getting more compact. The possible implications of these results on the potential applications of NMEA-12 as foam stabilizer are discussed.     

Copper 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)-and 1,8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetra-(4-carboxyphenoxy)phthalocyanines and their esters: The synthesis and liquid-crystalline properties

Copper 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)-and 1,8(11),15(18),22(25)-tetra(4-carboxyphenoxy)phthalocyanines and their carboxylic esters were synthesized and their spectral characteristics and liquid-crystalline properties were studied. 2,9(10),16(17),23(24)-Tetrasubstituted complexes exhibit both thermotropic and lyotropic mesomorphism in mixtures with a number of organic solvents. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 991–1000, June, 2006.