The synthesis and liquid crystal transition temperatures of some weakly polar nematic methyl (E)-[trans-4-substituted-cyclohexyl]-allyl ethers

We have introduced an oxygen atom and a carbon-carbon double bond with a trans-configuration (E) into the terminal alkyl chain of a wide variety of liquid crystalline cyclohexane derivatives to produce a variety of new methyl (E)-allyl ethers. The melting points and tendency to form smectic mesophases are often low, while nearly all of the compounds prepared exhibit a nematic phase. Thus, even two-ring derivatives can exhibit nematic phases over a wide temperature range (≤80°C), sometimes starting below room temperature (T_m≈10°C). Comparisons with the corresponding derivatives incorporating either just an oxygen atom or just a carbon-carbon double bond in the same position indicate that synergetic effects lead to broader nematic phases than would otherwise have been expected. Thus many of the new methyl (E)-allyl ethers exhibit nematic phases over a wider temperature range than the corresponding materials with an unsubstituted alkyl chain attached to the cyclohexyl ring. The new compounds are easily prepared from known starting materials. Many intermediates are themselves liquid crystalline. This allows investigation of the relationship between liquid crystal transition temperatures and the nature of the terminally substituted alkyl chain (for example, incorporating C=C, OH, CO₂C₂H₅ and OCH₃ groups).     

The synthesis and liquid crystal transition temperatures of some weakly polar nematic methyl (E)-[trans-4-substituted-cyclohexyl]-allyl ethers

Abstract

We have introduced an oxygen atom and a carbon-carbon double bond with a trans-configuration (E) into the terminal alkyl chain of a wide variety of liquid crystalline cyclohexane derivatives to produce a variety of new methyl (E)-allyl ethers. The melting points and tendency to form smectic mesophases are often low, while nearly all of the compounds prepared exhibit a nematic phase. Thus, even two-ring derivatives can exhibit nematic phases over a wide temperature range (≤80°C), sometimes starting below room temperature (T _m≈10°C). Comparisons with the corresponding derivatives incorporating either just an oxygen atom or just a carbon-carbon double bond in the same position indicate that synergetic effects lead to broader nematic phases than would otherwise have been expected. Thus many of the new methyl (E)-allyl ethers exhibit nematic phases over a wider temperature range than the corresponding materials with an unsubstituted alkyl chain attached to the cyclohexyl ring. The new compounds are easily prepared from known starting materials. Many intermediates are themselves liquid crystalline. This allows investigation of the relationship between liquid crystal transition temperatures and the nature of the terminally substituted alkyl chain (for example, incorporating C[dbnd]C, OH, CO₂C₂H₅ and OCH₃ groups).     

Polar nematic trans-4-substituted-cyclohexyl (E)-alk-2-enoates The influence of dipoles and double bonds on the transition temperatures and other physical properties

As part of a systematic study of the factors affecting nematic phase formation, the influence of introducing dipoles (in the form of oxygen, carbonyl and carboxy groups) and steric restrictions (in the form of carbon-carbon double bonds) in various positions, configurations and combinations in a model system (4-[trans-4-pentylcyclohexyl]benzonitrile) has been investigated. On the basis of these results, we have introduced an ester group and a carbon-carbon double bond with a trans-configuration (E) into the terminal alkyl chain attached to the cyclohexyl ring of a variety of two- and three-ring nematic mesogens of positive dielectric anisotropy. This is a new combination of a polar ester group (dipole effect) and the added rigidity imposed by the double bond (steric effect). Most of the new (E) alk 2-enoates containing two rings in the molecular core possess high melting points. Only a few two ring esters exhibit nematic phase, although the clearing point of those esters exhibiting mesomorphic behaviour was high. The corresponding three-ring (E)-alk-2-enoates incorporating an additional phenyl or cyclohexane ring also possess high melting and clearing points, as well as wide nematic ranges. No smectic mesophases could be observed for any of the (E)-alk-2-enoates synthesized. Comparisons with the corresponnding derivatives incorporating either just an ester group, or just a carbon-carbon double bond in the same position indicate that synergetic effects lead to higher clearing points than would otherwise have been expected. The new (E)-alk-2-enoates possess a surprisingly moderate viscosity for esters. The high value of the elastic constant ratio k₃₃/k₁₁ is of advantage for mixtures designed for supertwisted nematic LCDs.     

Polar nematic methyl (E)-[trans-4-cyclohexyl-substituted]allyl ethers: Synthesis, liquid crystal transition temperatures and some physical properties

We have introduced an oxygen atom and a carbon-carbon double bond with a trans-configuration (E) into the terminal alkyl chain attached to the cyclohexyl ring of a variety of two- and three-ring nematic liquid crystals of positive dielectric anisotropy. The new polar two-ring methyl (E)-allyl ethers often possess low melting points, but are not mesomorphic in general. The related three-ring methyl (E)-allyl ethers exhibit high clearing points and wide nematic ranges. Comparisons with the corresponding derivatives incorporating either just an oxygen atom or just a carbon-carbon double bond in the same position indicate that synergetic effects lead to broader nematic phases than would otherwise have been expected. This is partially due to the low smectic transition temperatures observed for the methyl (E)-allyl ethers. Selected physical properties of three binary mixtures of a weakly polar standard nematic liquid crystal and three difluoro-substituted (polar) liquid crystals (including the new ethers) differing only in the nature of the terminal chain show that, although some of the methyl (E)-allyl ethers exhibit longer switch-off times in TN cells than those of analogous liquid crystals incorporating either a methyl propyl ether or a 1-(E)-propenyl chain instead of the methyl (E)-allyl ether chain, they are still useful components for nematic mixtures, especially where a wide temperature range is required.     

The synthesis and transition temperatures of some trans-4-alkylcyclohexylethyl-substituted 2,3-difluorobiphenyls

Terphenyls with two lateral ortho-fluoro-substituents have proved to be excellent host materials for ferroelectric (S_C*) mixtures. The compounds reported here are biphenyls with the same arrangement of lateral substituents but with a trans-4-alkylcyclohexylethyl moiety as one of the terminal substituents. Such three ring systems retain the ability to generate the S_C mesophase and have low melting points. Low temperature lithiation procedures were used to prepare phenylboronic acids, which were then used in palladium catalysed cross-coupling procedures to prepare the desired compounds. The effect of molecular structure on the mesophase types and thermal stabilities is discussed and comparisons are made with analogous terphenyls and biphenyls with open chain terminal substituents.     

The synthesis and transition temperatures of some ferroelectric host materials based on 4- and 4'-(trans-4-alkylcyclohexylmethoxy)-2,3-difluorobiphenyls

A range of 2,3-difluoro-substituted biphenyls incorporating a cyclohexylmethoxy unit as one terminal chain has been prepared and these materials are compared to the analogous compounds already reported with a dimethylene linking group. Related, directly-linked cyclohexylbiphenyls and some open-chain analogues have also been prepared which add to the diversity of the compounds reported. These were prepared as host materials of low birefringence for ferroelectric (S*_c) mixtures and in general, the compounds have quite high S_c phase stability. Metallation procedures have been used to prepare arylboronic acids which were employed in palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions to provide good yields of liquid crystal materials. The synthesis and transition temperatures of these compounds are discussed and compared with each other and with other selected ortho-difluoro-substituted systems.     

2-(4-Alkylphenyl)-5-(alkenyloxy)pyrimidines: Synthesis,liquid crystal transition temperatures and some physical properties

Abstract

We have recently reported the introduction of a carbon-carbon double bond into a wide variety of 5-n-alkyl-2-(4-n-alkoxyphenyl)pyrimidines to produce the corresponding alkenyloxy derivatives. The position and nature (E/Z) of the double bond were varied systematically and the effect on the liquid crystal transition temperatures studied. The position and nature (E/Z) of the double bond changed the conformation of the alkenyloxy chain substantially. This resulted in higher smectic C and nematic transition temperatures for compounds with a trans-double bond (E) at an even number of carbon atoms from the molecular core. Significantly lower transition temperatures (including the melting point) were observed for materials with a cis-double bond (Z) at an odd number of carbon atoms from the molecular core. We have now performed the same operation on the related 2-(4-n-alkylphenyl)-5-n-alkoxypyrimidines to produce the corresponding alkenyloxy derivatives. An interesting feature of the new results is the high melting points of the trans-substituted materials and the low melting points of the terminally substituted compounds. The smectic C transition temperatures of both series are high. No nematic phases could be observed. However, in admixture with other smectic C components, the new compounds lead to surprisingly fast switching times, high smectic C transition temperatures and low melting points/crystallization temperatures in experimental mixtures designed for electro-optic display devices based on ferroelectric effects.     

2-(4-Alkylphenyl)-5-(alkenyloxy)pyrimidines: Synthesis, liquid crystal transition temperatures and some physical properties

We have recently reported the introduction of a carbon-carbon double bond into a wide variety of 5-n-alkyl-2-(4-n-alkoxyphenyl)pyrimidines to produce the corresponding alkenyloxy derivatives. The position and nature (E/Z) of the double bond were varied systematically and the effect on the liquid crystal transition temperatures studied. The position and nature (E/Z) of the double bond changed the conformation of the alkenyloxy chain substantially. This resulted in higher smectic C and nematic transition temperatures for compounds with a trans-double bond (E) at an even number of carbon atoms from the molecular core. Significantly lower transition temperatures (including the melting point) were observed for materials with a cis-double bond (Z) at an odd number of carbon atoms from the molecular core. We have now performed the same operation on the related 2-(4-n-alkylphenyl)-5-n-alkoxypyrimidines to produce the corresponding alkenyloxy derivatives. An interesting feature of the new results is the high melting points of the trans-substituted materials and the low melting points of the terminally substituted compounds. The smectic C transition temperatures of both series are high. No nematic phases could be observed. However, in admixture with other smectic C components, the new compounds lead to surprisingly fast switching times, high smectic C transition temperatures and low melting points/crystallization temperatures in experimental mixtures designed for electro-optic display devices based on ferroelectric effects.     

The synthesis and transition temperatures of some 4'-alkyl- and 4'-alkoxy-4-cyano-3-fluorobiphenyls

The preparation of 4'-alkyl- and 4'-alkoxy-4-cyano-3-fluorobiphenyls by four different procedures is described and discussed; the best method involves palladium(0)-catalysed coupling of arylboronic acids and 4-bromo-(or 4-iodo-)-2-fluorobenzonitrile. The effects on transition temperatures of fluoro substitution ortho to the terminal cyano group in biphenyls are compared with the effects in other terminal cyano compounds and in mesogens without a terminal cyano group. The effect of the ortho fluoro substituent in 4-cyanobiphenyls is particularly large and is probably due to the severe disruption of antiparallel correlations; the depressions of the smectic A and nematic phase stabilities are similar which suggests that, as for compounds with alkyl or alkoxy terminal groups, the fluoro substituent at the 3-position has a tendency to enhance smectic character, but this is offset by the molecular broadening it causes.     

The effect of lateral fluoro-substitution on the liquid crystal behaviour of some 4'-alkylphenylethyl- and trans-4'-alkylcyclohexylethyl-4,4'-disubstituted biphenyls

The preparation of several 4'-alkylphenylethyl- and trans-4'-alkylcyclohexyl-ethyl-4,4'-disubstituted biphenyls and their 2-fiuoro derivatives is described and their transition temperatures are reported. The effect on the transition temperatures caused by the replacement of a cyclohexane ring by a benzene ring and the effect of fluoro-substitution on nematic, smectic A and smectic B thermal stabilities is discussed. In these systems, and in others, when the lateral fluoro-substituent points towards the longer terminal aliphatic unit (alkyl or alkylcyclo-hexylethyl) it causes a greater depression of smectic properties.     

The effect of lateral fluoro-substitution on the liquid crystal behaviour of some 4'-alkylphenylethyl- and trans-4'-alkylcyclohexylethyl-4,4'-disubstituted biphenyls

Abstract

The preparation of several 4'-alkylphenylethyl- and trans-4'-alkylcyclohexyl-ethyl-4,4'-disubstituted biphenyls and their 2-fiuoro derivatives is described and their transition temperatures are reported. The effect on the transition temperatures caused by the replacement of a cyclohexane ring by a benzene ring and the effect of fluoro-substitution on nematic, smectic A and smectic B thermal stabilities is discussed. In these systems, and in others, when the lateral fluoro-substituent points towards the longer terminal aliphatic unit (alkyl or alkylcyclo-hexylethyl) it causes a greater depression of smectic properties.     

The synthesis and liquid crystal properties of certain 1-(4'-n-alkoxy-2,2',3,3',5,5',6,6'-octafluorobiphenyl-4-yl)- 2-(trans-4-n-pentylcyclohexyl)-ethanes and -ethenes

The synthesis and liquid crystal properties of eight members of the homologous series of 1-(4'-n-alkoxy-2,2',3,3',5,5',6,6'-octafluorobiphenyl-4-yl)-2-(trans-4-n-pentylcyclohexyl)-ethanes and eight members of the corresponding -ethanes, which have the E-configuration, are reported. These compounds are nematic, the ethenes having a considerably mesophase higher thermal stability than the analogous ethanes.     

Dynamics of dissipative structures and the transition to turbulence in a nematic liquid crystal

It has been observed for the first time that the domain oscillations of a nematic liquid crystal subject to a transverse DC electric field are self-organized in space as concentric and spiral phase waves. The formation of the phase wave sources has been described. The transition of the hexagonal convective structure to turbulence has been investigated by the temporal Fourier analysis method. It has been found that a route to turbulence passes through a continuous widening of peaks in the power spectrum of light intensity transmitted through the cell.     

Structure of trans-4-(trans-4-n-pentylcyclohexyl)cyclohexylcarbonitrile (CCH5) in the isotropic and nematic phases: a computer simulation study

We have studied the single particle structural properties of the nematogen trans-4-(trans-4-n-pentylcyclohexyl)cyclohexylcarbonitrile (CCH5) by molecular dynamics simulation using realistic atom-atom potentials. On going from the isotropic phase at 390 K to the nematic phase at 350 K, the molecules become significantly longer and thinner, as indicated by the equivalent molecular moment-of-inertia spheroid and the distribution of trans and gauche bonds. This change is only partly accounted for by the lowering of the temperature, there being a significant quenching effect due to the change in the molecular environment. This quenching effect is also apparent in the distribution of molecular shapes seen in molecular width-breadth contour maps. In the nematic phase, at 350K, the distributions of alkyl tail bond orientations with respect to the director show a pronounced odd-even effect, with peaks in the distributions occurring alternately parallel to, and at an angle to, the director.     

The synthesis and transition temperatures of benzoate ester derivatives of 2-fluoro-4-hydroxy-and 3-fluoro-4-hydroxybenzonitriles

The synthesis and the liquid-crystal temperatures of sixty 4-cyano-2-fluorophenyl and 4-cyano-3-fluorophylen 4-substituted benzoates are described. The nematic-isotropic liquid transition temperatures of the most of these novel esters are only marginally lower than those of the corresponding esters containing an H-atom in place of the F-substituent. In several instances, the clearing points of the F-substiuted-phenyl esters are higher than those of the non-substituted-phenyl esters. The nematic ranges of several of the new esters are markedly broader than those of the analogous non-F-substituted-phenyl esters.     

反-1,2-双[2'-(5'-苯基恶唑基)]乙烯的晶体结构

用X射线单晶衍射法测定了反-1,2-双[2'-(5'-苯基恶唑基)]乙烯(POEOP)的晶体结构,POEOP晶体属单斜晶系, 空间群为P2~1/C, a=0.8268(2), b=0.5977(2), c=1.6292(3)nm;β=100.55(2)°; v=0.7915nm~3; Z=2; d~x=1.319g/cm~3。POEOP分子具有中心对称性,它的两个苯环和两个恶唑环是彼此平行的, 但整个分子却稍有些扭曲成螺旋浆式构型。键长数据表明POEOP分子中苯环与恶唑环以及恶唑环与C'=C双键间均有很大程度共轭。     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of (2E,4E)-dienamides and (2E,4E)-dienoates via a double elimination reaction

Highly stereoselective synthesis of (2E,4E)-dienamides and (2E,4E)-dienoates was achieved through a double elimination reaction of β-acetoxy sulfones.     

Formation of aqueous molecular nematic liquid crystal phase in poly(p-sulfophenylene sulfoterephthalamide)

We report strong experimental evidence on the formation of a molecular lyotropic phase in water of a modified polyaramide, namely a fully sulfonated poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (Sulfo2PPTA) that exhibits similar liquid crystalline behaviour in water to its non-sulfonated counterpart (PPTA, commercially known as Kevlar or Twaron) in sulfuric acid.     

The synthesis and liquid crystal properties of some 4-n-nonylphenyl esters of 3-(4'-n-alkoxybiphenylyl)- and 3-(4'-n-alkoxybiphenylyl)-3-methyl-propanoic acids and their laterally fluorinated analogues

A number of 4-n-nonylphenyl esters and mono- and di-fluorinated 4-n-nonylphenyl esters derived from 3-(4'-n-alkoxybiphenylyl)propanoic acids (II) have been synthesized and their thermotropic liquid crystal properties assessed with a view to obtaining tilted smectic phases for possible use in ferroelectric display devices. Many of these compounds exhibit wide temperature range S_C and S_I/F phases, but none gave the ideal phase sequence S_C-S_A-N-I mainly because the structure of these compounds was not conducive to the formation of the nematic phase. To try to alleviate this problem a series of 4-n-nonylphenyl esters based on 3-(4'-n-alkoxybiphenylyl)-3-methylpropanoic acid was prepared, where a lateral methyl group was incorporated in the β-position of the -CH₂CH₂CO₂- linkage. Incorporation of the lateral methyl group encouraged the formation of a nematic phase at the expense of both the smectic A phase and tilted smectic phases.