Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of three- and four-ring liquid crystals containing cyclohexyl,phenyl and pyridyl units

Two series of 4-(3-alkoxycarbonylpyridyl-6-ethynyl)phenyl trans-4-n-alkylcyclohexylcarboxylates and 4-(3-alkoxycarbonylpyridyl-6-ethynyl)phenyl 4-(trans-4-n-alkylcyclohexyl)benzoates have been prepared. Their mesmorphic properties were observed and measured by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The relationship between structures and properties is discussed, showing that the ferroelectric phase can be observed when chiral terminal chains exist.     

Optical properties of a mesogen by image analysis

An image analysis technique in conjunction with polarising optical microscopy (POM) is proposed for assessment of the thermo-optical properties of homogeneously aligned chiral ester liquid crystals of the type ((S)-(-)-2-methylbutyl 4′-(4″-n-alkanoyloxybenzoyloxy) biphenyl-4-carboxylates, where n?=?16 or 18. Chiral ester textures are recorded as a function of temperature using POM provided with a hot-stage and a high-resolution colour camera. Temperature-dependent optical parameters, or thermo-optical properties such as optical transmission, degree of polarisation, absorption coefficient and birefringence are computed for chiral esters by analysing the texture of samples using MATLAB software. This is a simple experimental technique for observing how the optical parameters of liquid crystals change with temperature.     

Effect of a lateral methyl group on azo-mesogens containing the naphthalene moiety

Two mesogenic homologous series, 2-[4-(4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-methylphenylazo]-naphthalenes (I) and 2-[4-(4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-3-methylphenylazo]naphthalenes (II) with a lateral methyl group have been synthesized. Both series are purely nematogenic. The mesomorphic properties of both series are compared with each other and also with the properties of other structurally related series to evaluate the effect of the lateral methyl group on mesomorphism. The chiral nematic (N*) mesophase was induced in the system by doping with a derivative of naturally occurring chiral menthol.     

Synthesis and Physical Properties of New Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals Consisting of 2(S)-[2 (S)-Methylbutyloxy] Propanol

New ferroelectric liquid crystals containing two chiral centers, 4-(4′-n-alkyloxyphenyl)phenyl 4-{2(S)-[2(S)-methylbutyloxy]propoxy}benzoate ( 4a-4f ) and 4 -(n-alkyloxy)phenyl 4-{4′-[2(S)-(2(S)-methylbutyloxy)propoxy]phenyl}benzoate ( 5a-5f ) were synthesized and their physical properties studied. A phase-transition sequence of C-Sc*-N*-I was observed in most cases. Some homologues of them, 4a-4d , possess monotropic Sc * phase. Not only the Sc* phase-transition temperature of 5a-5f is lower than that of the corresponding 4a-4f , but their Sc * phase-transition temperature range is also wider than the corresponding 4a-4f . The Sc * phase temperature range can be up to 48 °C. The spontaneous polarization of 8-28 nC/cm² and the electric rise time of 240-420 μs were measured in FLCs 4a-5f .     

Order parameter studies from effective order geometry in 4O.Om and 7O.Om liquid crystalline compounds

The effective geometry parameter, α_g = n _o /n _e, is used to evaluate the orientational order parameter, S, in the case of N-(p-n-butyloxybenzylidene)-p-n-alkoxy anilines, 4O.Om and N-(p-n-heptyloxybenzylidene)-p-n-alkoxy anilines, 7O.Om compounds with m?=?3–7 and 9 in the former case and m?=?3, 5–7 and 9 in the later materials. The results obtained are compared with those calculated using the standard techniques of molecular polarisability and birefringence. The effective geometry parameter's influence on the deflection of light by the liquid crystal compounds is also studied. The variation of temperature gradient of the ordinary refractive index, dn _o /dT, and extraordinary refractive index, dn _e /dT, of the liquid crystals is also studied.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of new chiral banana‐shaped liquid crystals with chiral 3‐(alkoxy)propoxy terminal groups

New chiral banana‐shaped liquid crystals with chiral 3‐(alkoxy)propoxy terminal groups (Pn‐O‐PIMB5*‐4O, n = 7, 8, 9 and 10) were synthesized and their mesomorphic properties and phase structures investigated by means of electro‐optic measurements, polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and second harmonic generation measurements. Most of these chiral bent‐core mesogens (n = 7–9) showed the antiferroelectric B2 phase, whereas P10‐O‐PIMB5*‐4O exhibited the B7 phase. Comparing with the previously reported homologue Pn‐O‐PIMB(n‐2)*, we conclude that the terminal chain structure, particularly the position of chiral centres, plays an important role in the emergence of particular phase structures.     

Chiral Bent-Shaped Molecules Exhibiting Unusually Wide Range of Blue Liquid-Crystalline Phases and Multistimuli-Responsive Behavior

Recently, an unprecedented observation of polar order, thermochromic behavior, and exotic mesophases in new chiral, bent-shaped systems with a −CH₃ moiety placed at the transverse position of the central core was reported. Herein, a homologous series of compounds with even-numbered carbon chains from n=4 to 18 were synthesized, in which −Cl was substituted for −CH₃ at the kink position and a drastic modification in the phase structure of the bent-shaped molecule was observed. An unusual stabilization of the cubic blue phase (BP) over a wide range of 16.4 °C has been witnessed. Two homologues in this series ( 1 -12 and 1 -14) exhibit an interesting phase sequence consisting of BPI/II, chiral nematic, twist grain boundary, smectic A, and smectic X (SmX) phases. The higher homologues ( 1 -16 and 1 -18) stabilize the SmX phase enantiotropically over the entire temperature range. Crystal structure analysis confirmed the bent molecular architecture, with a bent angle of 148°, and revealed the presence of two different molecular conformations in an asymmetric unit of compound 1 -4. A DFT study corroborated that the −Cl moiety at the central core of the molecule led to an increase in the dipole moment along the transverse direction, which, in turn, facilitated the unusual stabilization of frustrated structures. Crystal polymorphism has been evidenced in three homologues ( 1 -10, 1 -12, and 1 -14) of the series. On the application of mechanical pressure through grinding, compound 1 -10 transformed from a bright yellow crystalline solid to a dark orange–green amorphous solid, which reversed upon dropwise addition of dichloromethane, indicating reversible mechanochromism in this class of compounds. In addition, excellent thermochromic behavior has been observed for compound 1 -10 with a controlled temperature–color combination.     

Photocontrolled Phase Transitions and Reflection Behaviors of Smectic Liquid Crystals by a Chiral Azobenzene

The photocontrolled phase transitions and reflection behaviors of a smectic liquid crystal, 4‐octyl‐4′‐cyanobiphenyl (8CB), tuned by a chiral azobenzene, are systematically investigated. For the smectic 8CB doped with the chiral azobenzene (1R)‐(?)‐4‐n‐hexyl‐4′‐menthylazobenzene (ABE), the initial smectic phase can be switched to cholesteric and then to isotropic upon UV irradiation due to the trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization of ABE; however, no reflection band is observed. For the smectic 8CB doped with ABE and the chiral agent (S)‐(?)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diol (BN), a reflection band located in the short‐wavelength infrared region is observed, which disappears after further UV irradiation. For the smectic 8CB doped with ABE and a chiral agent with higher helical twisting power, (S)‐2,2′‐methylendioxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene (DBN), a phototunable system with cholesteric pitch short enough to reflect visible light is demonstrated. With a given concentration of the chiral dopant DBN, a reversible reflection color transition is realized tuned by the isomerization of azobenzene. The reverse phase transition from isotropic to cholesteric and then to smectic can be recovered upon visible irradiation. The photocontrolled phase transitions in smectic liquid crystals and the corresponding changes in reflection band switched by photoisomerization of azobenzene may provide impetus for their practical application in optical memories, displays, and switches.     

Why chiral tartaric imide derivatives give large helical twisting powers in nematic liquid crystal phases: substituent-effect approach to investigate intermolecular interactions between dopant and liquid crystalline molecules

Novel C₂-symmetric chiral dopant derivatives, namely, N-substituted (2R, 3R)-2,3-bis(4-(4-octyloxyphenyl)benzoyloxy)succinimides1a-h, were synthesised, and the effects of the N-substituent and imide-carbonyl groups on the helical twisting powers (HTPs) were investigated in two nematic liquid crystalline compounds, 4-n-pentyl-4?-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) and N-(4-ethoxybenzylidene)-4-n-butylaniline (EBBA). As a result, it was clarified that the bulkiness of the N-substituents has a significant correlation with the HTPs, and the imide-carbonyl group interacts strongly with the cyano group of 5CB to give high HTPs in the nematic phases. However, it is assumed that the imide-carbonyl groups of the dopants do not have strong electrostatic attractive interactions with EBBA molecules in the nematic phase to afford the moderate HTPs.     

Synthesis,characterisation and liquid crystalline properties of some Schiff base and cinnamate central linkages involving 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazolone ring system and their Cu(II) complexes

Two new mesogenic homologous series, each containing 1,3,5-trisubstituted pyrazolone derivatives, 4-n-alkoxyphenyl and Schiff base–cinnamate central linkages, have been synthesised to give 4-[(5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methyleneamino] phenyl 3-(4-n-alkoxyphenyl)acrylate [Series-A] and 4-[(5-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-p-tolyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyleneamino] phenyl 3-(4-n-alkoxyphenyl)acrylate [Series-B] and their Cu(II) complexes have also been synthesised. These compounds were characterised by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), carbon-13 NMR (¹³C NMR) and ultraviolet (UV)-visible and mass spectral studies. Their mesomorphic behaviour was studied by polarising optical microscope (POM) with a heating stage. POM data were compared with differential scanning calorimetry thermograms. In Series-A and -B, all compounds exhibit mesomorphism. Series-A compounds exhibit an enantiotropic nematic mesophase except propyl derivative, while a smectic A (SmA) mesophase is observed from the heptyl derivative and persists up to the last member of the homologous series. n-Heptyloxy derivative is monotropic for SmA phase. Series-B compounds also exhibit the enantiotropic nematic mesophase, while the SmA mesophase is observed from the heptyl derivative and persists up to the last member of the homologous series. n-Dodecyloxy derivative exhibits monotropic SmA and nematic mesophases. The mesomorphic properties of both series are compared with each other and the other structurally related compounds. The study reveals that cinnamate linkage containing liquid crystals have higher thermal stability compared to structurally related series containing chalcone linkage. In case of complex series, only one compound from each series gives nematic mesophase.     

A convenient synthesis and the mesomorphic properties of new chiral ferroelectric thiobenzoates

A secondary chiral (R)-(?)-2-alcohol underwent the Mitsunobu reaction with triphenylphosphine, diethyl azodicarboxylate and ethyl 4-hydroxybiphenylcarboxylate, resulting in the desired (S)-(+)-product with high enantiomeric purity (>99% ee), with the chiral branched chain attached to the biphenyl. This method is operationally simple and provides the very important chiral precursor in good yields (62% in dry THF and 72% in dry Et₂O). The condensation of the (S)-(+)-acid chloride from this material and a suitable 4-n-alkylthiophenol in toluene in the presence of pyridine or triethylamine furnishes the chiral (S)-(+)-thiobenzoate liquid crystals in good yields (80–83% in pyridine and 65–68% in Et₃N). (S)-(+)-4-(1-Methylheptyloxy)biphenyl 4-alkylthiobenzoates are abbreviated (S)-MHOBSn , where n varies from 4 to 10 and denotes the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. DSC, polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction showed that the (S)-MHOBSn series possesses a rich phase polymorphism: two highly ordered tilted phases CrG* and SmI*, as well as the ferroelectric smectic C (SmC*) and chiral nematic (N*) phase. In this series, the seldom observed transition between the chiral phases SmI*–SmC* is seen. All the compounds possess stable enantiotropic SmC* and N* phases. The existence of weak intermolecular hydrogen-bonding in (S)-MHOBSn was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy.     

Visco-elastic properties of reentrant nematic liquid crystalline mixtures

The visco-elastic properties for binary mixtures of 4-n -hexyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl (6OCB) and 4-n-octyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8OCB) are investigated in detail by a light scattering technique. The mixtures exhibit a reentrant nematic (RN) phase between the smectic A (SmA) and crystal phases in the range 22.0–29.5 wt % of 6OCB. The viscosity and the elastic constant increase with cooling in both the nematic and reentrant nematic phases. It is also found that the mixtures exhibit anomalously large values of viscosity and elastic constant near the phase transition, i.e. a pretransitional phenomenon can be observed. The activation energy for viscosity is smaller in the RN phase than in the ordinary nematic phase appearing at higher temperatures, while the normalized elastic constant (defined as the ratio of the elastic constant to the square of the dielectric anisotropy) is larger. Moreover, the visco-elastic behaviour depends on the specific time during which the sample has been kept in the SmA phase. These results confirm that the SmA phase has a strong influence on the formation of molecular aggregates, which plays an important role in the reentrant phenomenon of these systems.     

Photochromic chiral liquid crystalline systems containing spiro-oxazine with a chiral substituent I. Synthesis and characterization of compounds

Photochromic acrylates containing both biphenylene and spiro-oxazine moieties with a chiral substituent and the related polymers were prepared and yielded photochromic chiral liquid crystalline systems. The photochromic acrylates containing both an undecamethylene group and a (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoyloxy group (A11SOP) or a (-)-menthoxyacetoxy group (A11SOM) gave a supercooled mesophase; the latter reflected right-handed visible light (blue colour) at room temperature. On the other hand, the photochromic acrylate containing both the (R)-(-)-2-methylpropylene and (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoyloxy groups (A3SOP) showed no mesophase. The related homopolymers, PA11SOP and PA11SOM, did not exhibit mesophases because of steric hindrance between the side groups of the polymers. However, only PA11SOM exhibited shear-induced birefringence under 100-104°C. Several copolymers consisting of the nematogenic monomer, 4-[4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoyloxy]benzonitrile (A6CN), and A11SOP or A11SOM possessed a smectic phase due to reduction of the steric hindrance between the potentially smectogenic A11SOP or A11SOM moieties.     

Phase diagrams and physical properties of binary ferroelectric mixtures based on a series of chiral α-cyanocinnamate derivatives

We report a detailed investigation of binary mixtures composed of members of the homologous series of (S)-4′-(2-n-alkoxypropanoyloxy)biphenyl-4-yl 4-n-alkoxy- f-cyanocinnamates. The phase transition curves for these mixtures have no minima. On the contrary, eutectic behaviour was obtained if the members of this homologous series were mixed with structurally different chiral cinnamic acid derivatives and other ferroelectric liquid crystal materials. Spontaneous polarization, tilt angle and dielectric constant results were obtained for three of the single compounds and nine ferroelectric mixtures.     

Synthesis,characterisation, mesomorphic investigation and temperature-dependent Raman study of a novel calamitic liquid crystal: methyl 4-(4′-n-alkoxybenzylideneamino)benzoate

A new series of Schiff base calamitic liquid crystal; methyl 4-(4′-n-alkoxybenzylideneamino)benzoate (MABAB), H_2n+1C _n OC₆H₄C(H)=NC₆H₄COOCH₃ (n = 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) has been synthesised and characterised by elemental analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ¹H and ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The mesomorphic properties of these compounds were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarising optical microscopy (POM). All members of the series exhibit enantiotropic smectic A (SmA) mesophase. Temperature-dependent micro-Raman study of one of the members, MABAB-10 has been employed to identify phase transitions and the molecular rearrangement therein. Analysis of Raman marker bands; C–H in-plane bending, C–C stretching of phenyl rings and –C(H)=N– linking group of core confirms the transitions clearly as observed through DSC and POM. An in situ Raman measurement of C–H in-plane bending mode has also been performed to visualise the molecular changes more clearly. The Raman study gives an evidence of induced co-planarity of rings at Cr→SmA phase transition. The density functional theoretical (DFT) optimisation of monomer, dimer and rotational conformer of MABAB-10 also support the induced co-planarity at Cr→SmA phase transition.     

Ferroelectric liquid crystals with axially chiral 2,2′-spirobiindan-1,1′-dione cores

The axially chiral mesogens 5-alkoxy-5′-[(4-alkoxybenzoyl)oxy]-2,2′-spirobiindan-1,1′-dione (QL7-n) were synthesised as racemic mixtures and resolved as single enantiomers by preparative chiral phase HPLC. The shorter homologues (R)-QL7-8 and QL7-9 form enantiotropic N* and SmC* phases, whereas the longer homologues (R)-QL7-10 and QL7-12 form an enantiotropic SmC* phase only. Texture analysis showed that the helical pitch of the N* phase is below the wavelength range of visible light; a helical pitch of 187 nm was measured at T – T_NI = –5 K by selective reflection using enantiomerically enriched mixtures of (R)- and (S)-QL7-8 (0.35 ≤ ee ≤ 0.80). Spontaneous polarisations were measured as a function of temperature in the SmC* phase by the triangular wave method. P_S values at saturation range from 102 nC cm^–2 for (R)-QL7-8 to 120 nC cm^?2 for (R)-QL7-9, which are up to three times greater than the highest polarisation previously reported for an axially chiral SmC* mesogen. Optical tilt angles θ were measured as a function of temperature and showed a sharp rise consistent with first-order N*–SmC* or I–SmC* transitions, with values at saturation ranging from 42 to 44°.     

Assay of four stereoisomers of desacetyl diltiazem hydrochloride. Application toin vitro chiral inversion studies

Summary Direct resolution of four stereoisomers of the related compound of diltiazem hydrochloride, namely desacetyl diltiazem hydrochloride, was studied by both normal and reversed-phase chiral HPLC. The four stereoisomers were completely resolved on a Chiralcel OF column. The technique developed was applied to a chiral inversion study of desacetyl diltiazem hydrochloride. This inversion was observed neither in the solid state, in aqueous solution at 100°C for 3 h nor under visible light for 10h, but was observed in aqueous solution under UV irradiation.The (+)-(2S, 3S)-cis-desacetyl diltiazem hydrochloride degraded with a half-life of 1.9 h in aqueous solution under UV and epimerized to (+)-(2R, 3S)-trans-desacetyl diltiazem hydrochloride. Similarly, (+)-(2S, 3S)-cis-desacetyl diltiazem hydrochloride degraded about three times faster than diltiazem hydrochloride. Reverse epimerization of (+)-(2R, 3S)-trans-desacetyl diltiazem hydrochloride to (+)-(2S, 3S)-cis-desacetyl diltiazem hydrochloride was not observed.The overall degradation was the result of two competitive processes, the epimerization and the decomposition of the benzothiazepin ring. The degradation and epimerization rate of (+)-(2S, 3S)-cis-desacetyl diltiazem hydrochloride in solution under UV depended upon the solvent, the aqueous pH, and concentration.     

Thermal analysis and X-ray studies of chiral ferroelectric liquid crystalline materials and their binary mixtures

Summary Thermal properties of a homologous series of ferroelectric liquid crystals S-(-)-[4-(2-n-alkoxy-propionyloxy)]biphenyl-4'-[n-alkoxy-(3,5-dimethyl)]benzoate have been investigated by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The mesophases were identified and confirmed by X-ray too. Three binary mixtures were prepared from the individual homologues. In one of the mixtures (Mix1), the ferroelectric SmC* phase has broadened and became enantiotropic. This mesophase remained monotropic in the other two mixtures (Mix2, Mix3). The chiral nematic N* phase did not appear in Mix1, but remained monotropic for the other two mixtures. Two molecular parameters, the layer spacing and the average intermolecular distance have been calculated from the X-ray results for the homologues and their mixtures. An intercalated tail-to-tail packing of molecules was found both in the single compounds and their mixtures resulting in the layer spacing about half of the molecular length of the single compounds.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties on the series of 2-(4-alkylphenyl)-6-methylquinolines and 2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-6-methylquinolines

Two homologous series of quinoline-containing liquid crystalline compounds were synthesised. Preparation of these compounds was completed in a short two-step reaction. Fair to good two-step overall yields of 63%–68%?and 50%–60%?were obtained respectively for the liquid crystalline compounds of 2-(4-alkylphenyl)-6-methylquinolines (nPQMe, n?=?4–8) and 2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-6-methylquinolines (mOPQMe, m?=?3–7). Spectral analyses were in accordance with the expected structures. Polarising optical microscopy showed both series of compounds only display a nematic phase. Their thermotropic behaviours were further confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry.     

Resolution of enantiomers and isotopic compositions by selective complexation gas chromatography on metal complexes

Summary The high selectivity of complexation gas chromatography has been employed for enantiomer resolution and isotope separation. Thus, a chiral olefin, 3-methylcyclopentene, has been resolved analytically on optically active dicarbonyl-rhodium(I)-3-trifluoroacetyl-1R-camphorate in squalane. The deuterated ethylenes C₂H_4–nD_n have been separated on the same rhodium(I)-containing stationary phase. The chiral aliphatic oxiranes epoxypropane andtrans-2,3-epoxybutane have been resolved on optically active nickel(II)-bis-3-trifluoroacetyl-1R-camphorate in squalane.