Liquid crystalline properties of dissymmetric molecules IV. The substituent effect on thermal properties of nematic and smectic A phases in three aromatic ring systems with ester linkages

This paper describes the effect of substituent and ester linkage on smectic properties for some derivatives of 4-R -phenyl 4-(4-octyloxybenzoyloxy)benzoates (1), 4-octyloxyphenyl 4-(4-R-benzyloxy)benzoates (2), 4-(4-octyloxybenzoyloxy)phenyl 4- R -benzoates (3), and 4-R-phenyl 4-octyloxyphenyl terephthalates (4) where R = OCH₃, CH₃, OC₈H₁₇, C8H17, halogens, CF₃, OCF₃, CN, NO2, etc. The thermal properties are discussed in terms of the electrostatic nature of the substituents and the relative orientation of the ester groups with respect to both terminal substituents. The substituent effect on the layer structure of the smectic A phase is also examined by means of a small angle X-ray analysis.     

New industrial fluoropolymer science and technology

Teflon® AF, a family of copolymers of perfluoro-2,2-dimethyldioxole with tetrafluoroethylene, and Cytop®, a ring-cyclized homopolymer of CF₂=CFO(CF₂)₂CF=CF₂ are the first commercial amorphous perfluoroplastics which combine high optical clarity and solubility with outstanding chemical, thermal and electrical properties. The processes for making these materials are described and recent structure-property studies that reveal dramatic substituent effects on polymer T_g and related properties are reviewed. The results of some initial fundamental kinetic studies on fluorinated free-radical cyclizations that relate to efficient cyclopolymerization of fluorinated dienes and the design of new ring-containing fluoroplastics are discussed.     

Effect of the terminal substituent of azobenzene on the properties of ABA triblock copolymers via atom transfer radical polymerization

The effect of the terminal substituent of azobenzene on the properties of ABA triblock copolymers was investigated. For this study, three kinds of azobenzene‐containing monomers with different terminal substituents—6‐[4‐(4‐methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy] hexyl methacrylate, 6‐[4‐(4‐ethoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate, and 6‐[4‐(4‐nitrophenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate—were used to synthesize ABA triblock copolymers PMMAzo₂₅–PEG₁₃–PMMAzo₂₅/PMMAzo₁₂–PEG₁₃–PMMAzo₁₂, PEMAzo₁₄–PEG₁₃–PEMAzo₁₄, and PNMAzo₁₄–PEG₁₃–PNMAzo₁₄, respectively, by atom transfer radical polymerization (PMMAzo is poly{6‐[4‐(4‐methoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate}, PEMAzo is poly{6‐[4‐(4‐ethoxyphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate}, and PNMAzo is poly{6‐[4‐(4‐nitrophenylazo)phenoxy]hexyl methacrylate}). These copolymers were characterized with ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography and exhibited controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. Differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy showed that these copolymers had mesophases. PMMAzo₂₅–PEG₁₃–PMMAzo₂₅ and PMMAzo₁₂–PEG₁₃–PMMAzo₁₂ had a smectic mesophase and a nematic mesophase, whereas both PEMAzo₁₄–PEG₁₃–PEMAzo₁₄ and PNMAzo₁₄–PEG₁₃–PNMAzo₁₄ had a nematic mesophase. This demonstrated that the liquid‐crystalline properties of these copolymers highly depended on the terminal substituent of azobenzene. The photoresponsive behavior of these copolymers was also investigated in tetrahydrofuran solutions, and the influence of the terminal substituents attached to azobenzene was studied. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5190–5198, 2007     

The effect of polar substituents on the heterocyclic benzoxazoles

The synthesis, characterization, and mesomorphic properties of a new type of heterocyclic compounds 1, 2 derived from benzoxazole are reported. In order to understand the relationship between the structure and the mesomorphic behavior, compounds containing a variety of polar substituents (i.e., X=H, F, Cl, Br, CH₃, CF₃, OCH₃, NO₂, CN, OH, NMe₂, COOCH₃) on the terminal end were prepared. The phase behavior of these mesogenic compounds was characterized and studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarization optical microscopy. The formation of mesophases was strongly dependent on the electronic and/or the steric factors of the substituents. In general, a mesophase was better induced by introduction of a polar substituent. Compounds (X=H) formed a crystalline phase, however, other compounds, except for X=OH, exhibited nematic or smectic A phases. Interestingly all compounds with electron-donating substituents (X=CH₃, OCH₃, NMe₂) exhibited nematic phases, however, other compounds with electron-withdrawing substituents (X=F, Cl, Br, CF₃, NO₂, CN, COOCH₃) formed smectic A phases. Compounds (X=NO₂, CN, COOCH₃) have higher clearing temperatures than those of other homologues, and the higher T_cl was attributed to an enhanced conjugative interaction. However, no linear correlation between the clearing temperature or the temperature range of mesophases with Hammett σ_p constants was found. The fluorescent properties of the compounds were examined. All λ_max peaks of the absorption and photoluminescence spectra of compounds occurred at ca. 348-381 and 389-478 nm, respectively. Whereas, the quantum yields of some compounds were relatively low.     

Synthesis and thermal behaviour of salicylaldimine-based liquid crystalline symmetrical dimers

A series of symmetrical dimers consisting of salicylaldimine moieties connected by flexible alkylene central spacer via ether linkages has been synthesized. In order to validate the empirical rule suggested by Date et al. to account for the smectic behaviour of such dimers, the chain length of the terminal alkoxy chain has been kept constant (C₈) while the number of methylene units in the central spacer was varied from C₃ to C₁₁. Another aim of the present investigation was to understand structure-property relationship in these dimers in which the salicylaldimine mesogenic segment has been used for the first time in dimers. The mesomorphic behaviour of these dimers was evaluated using optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry and the structure of some of the mesophases has been further investigated with the help of X-ray diffraction. Our studies reveal that the dimers consisting of 3 to 8 methylene units in the flexible spacer show only smectic (smectic C and smectic A) phases. For the dimers containing 4, 6 and 8 methylene units in the central spacer, a unique filament growth pattern has been observed in the smectic A phase while cooling from the isotropic phase. The dimers containing of C₉ to C₁₁ methylene groups exhibit the nematic phase in addition to smectic modifications. This observation indicates that when the terminal chains are shorter than the spacer, the tendency to form smectic phases is not fully extinguished but is perhaps reduced.     

Synthesis and mesomorphism of novel multi-arm liquid crystals with cholic acid as chiral centre linking Schiff base moieties as mesogens

A new series of multi-arm chiral liquid crystals (LCs) D1–D3 were synthesised and characterised. Cholic acid was used as the core and ω-[4-(p-alkoxybenzoloxy)phenoxycarbonyl]valeric acid (B1–B3) was used as the mesogenic arms, containing different terminal substituent X (B1: X= -OCH₃, B2:X= -CH₃, B3: X= -Cl). Their structures and mesomorphic properties were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectrometer, differential scanning calorimetry, polarised optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The mesogenic B1–B3 displayed smectic B phase. The multi-arm LC D1 displayed cholesteric, while D2 and D3 exhibited nematic phase. The formation of cholesteric phase of D1 was affected by both the chiral core – the bulky cholic acid and the polarity of the terminal substituent of the mesogenic arm. That D1 displayed cholesteric phase but D2–D3 did not indicated that the stronger polarity of the terminal group OCH₃ of D1 played an important part in stabilising the cholesteric phase. The multi-arm LCs D1–D3 all showed ultraviolet activity. The wavelength of maximum absorption of D1–D3 was affected by the terminal substituent of the mesogenic arm.     

Aromatic compounds with new fluorine-containing substituents

The introduction of strong electron-accepting fluorine-containing substituents into the aromatic moiety gives compounds with unique properties. Determination of the electronic nature of the grouping (R_f)₂PO in arylbis(perfluoroalkyl)-phosphine oxides has shown that this substituent is comparable with R_fSO₂, one of the most electron-accepting groups.A general principle is proposed for the construction of the new superstrong electron-accepting substituents by the replacement of oxygen atoms for trifluoromethylsulfonylimino groups. For example, when the oxygen atoms in CF₃SO and CF₃SO₂ groups are replaced by CF₃SO₂N=, new stable and even more electron-accepting substituents are formed. The grouping CF₃S(O)=NSO₂CF₃ corresponds to two nitro groups. A similar increase in electron-accepting ability is observed in groupings derived from other elements by replacement of oxygen atoms by the CF₃SO₂N= group.     

Non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers based on 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives: synthesis,photoluminescence and liquid crystal behaviour

A series of non-symmetric liquid crystal compounds consisting of two different semi-rigid anisometric cores, namely 1,3,4-oxidiazole and biphenyl units, and two short terminal groups, have been synthesised in good yield. It has been shown by polarising optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry that all these compounds display liquid crystalline behaviour, with nematic and/or smectic A mesophases. The nature of the mesophases is dependent on the electronic properties of the terminal groups. In methylene chloride solution all the compounds displayed a room temperature emission with λ_max at 358–396 nm and quantum yields of 0.29–0.56. The effect of the terminal groups on the mesomorphic and photoluminescent properties is briefly discussed in the context of their electronic characteristics.     

1,3-Dinitro-2-chloro-5-trifluorotoluene and its bridged derivatives I. An investigation on the displacement reactions of bidentate nucleophiles towards aromatic rings

The reactions of 1,3-dinitro-2-chloro-5-trifluorotoluene (DNCTT) (1) and its bridged compounds with bidentate nucleophiles have been investigated. Primary or secondary diamines and diethylene glycol react with 1 and its bridged derivatives by replacing the substituent group para to CF₃, whereas ethanedithiol reacts either by replacing the substituent group para to CF₃ or by displacing both groups and a nitro group. The results have been rationalized in terms of electronic effects and nucleophilicity of the nucleophiles.     

Design of maleimide monomer for higher level of alternating sequence in radical copolymerization with styrene

This work deals with design of maleimide monomer toward more precise control of alternating sequence for radical copolymerization with styrene. Crucial in this study is sequence analysis by MALDI‐TOF‐MS for resultant copolymers that was obtained via ruthenium‐catalyzed living radical copolymerization with a malonate‐based alkyl halide initiator showing selective initiation ability. The copolymers of a simple N‐alkyl maleimide [e.g., N‐ethyl maleimide (EMI)] with styrene gave complicated peak patterns for the MALDI‐TOF‐MS spectra indicating low degree of alternating sequence, in contrary to expectation from the reactivity ratios (almost zero). A simple substitution of methyl group (CH₃) of EMI with trifluoromethyl (CF₃: CF₃‐MI) made the peak patterns much simpler giving the copolymer with higher alternating sequence. More interestingly, the peak interval of the copolymer at earlier polymerization stage was equal to sum of the molecular weights of CF₃‐MI and styrene, suggesting possibility of the pair propagation of the monomers. Indeed, ¹H NMR analyses of the mixture of maleimide with styrene suggested stronger interaction of CF₃‐MI than EMI. Based on the results, maleimide derivatives carrying a substituent‐designable electron‐withdrawing group [ROC(?O)N–: R = substituent] were newly designed toward incorporation of functional side chains. They also gave higher alternating sequence for the copolymerization with styrene. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 367–375     

Structural study of the smectic phases of several 4-cyanoalkoxybenzylidene-4'-alkylanilines

Abstract

A series of 4-cyanoalkoxybenzylidene-4'-alkylanilines (CN-nO. m; n = 3, 4, 6 and m = 4, 5, 8) have been synthesized. Their thermotropic liquid-crystalline polymorphism has been investigated using optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and dilatometry. Nematic, smectic A and smectic B mesophases have been identified. The structure of the smectic phases has been studied with X-ray diffraction. Depending upon the compound and the temperature, the smectic layers have been found to be either single (A₁) or double (A₂) layers of molecules. Unexpected from a simple comparison with the well-known behaviour of the very similar nO. m smectogens, which belong to the class of the so-called symmetric and therefore exhibit single-layered smectics only, this structural behaviour has been interpreted to mean the importance of the dipole interactions of the terminal cyano groups. For CN-60.8, a transition has been detected at 64°C between the single and double layered structure.     

Why do non-symmetric dimers intercalate? The synthesis and characterisation of the α-(4-benzylidene-substituted-aniline-4′-oxy)-ω-(2-methylbutyl-4′-(4″-phenyl)benzoateoxy)alkanes

Ten new non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers belonging to the family of compounds α-(4-benzylidene-substituted-aniline-4′-oxy)-ω-(2-methylbutyl-4′-(4″-phenyl)benzoateoxy)-alkanes have been synthesised and their transitional properties characterised. The dimers contain either a hexamethylene or octamethylene spacer, while the terminal substituents on the 4-benzylideneaniline fragment are H, CH₃, F, Cl and Br. The unsubstituted dimers are not liquid crystalline, while the remaining compounds exhibit enantiotropic nematic behaviour. The trends in the clearing temperatures, according to the chemical nature of the terminal substituent, are largely consistent with those established for conventional low molar mass liquid crystals. Three of the dimers also exhibit an intercalated smectic A phase, specifically the two bromo-substituted dimers and the chloro-substituted dimer containing a hexamethylene spacer. The driving force for the formation of this phase is considered to be, at least in part, the specific anisotropic interaction between the unlike mesogenic units. The absence of smectic behaviour for the isosteric methyl-substituted dimers reveals that steric factors alone cannot stabilise the intercalated smectic A phase.     

Star-shaped azomethines based on tris(2-aminoethyl)amine. Characterization,thermal and optical study

The synthesis and detailed (physico)-chemical (¹H/¹³C NMR, FTIR, UV–vis and elemental analysis) characterizations of new star-shaped compounds based on tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, including in their structure an azomethine function (HCN–) and alkoxysemiperfluorinated (–O–(CH₂)₃–(CF₂)₇–CF₃), octadecyloxy aliphatic (–O–(CH₂)₁₇–CH₃) chain or two phenyl rings (–Ph–Ph–) as a terminal group, were reported. The mesomorphic behavior was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and additionally by FTIR(T) and UV–vis(T) spectroscopy. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) technique was used to probe the structural properties of the azomethines. Moreover, the azomethine A1 was electro-spun to prepare fibers with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and investigated by DSC and POM. Additionally, a film of the A1 with PMMA was cast from chloroform and the thermal properties of the film were compared with the thermal properties of the fiber and powder. It was showed that terminal groups dramatically influence the thermal and optical properties of the star-shaped azomethines.     

Effect of the Nature of the Polymer Matrix on the Luminescence of Tb(III) Complexes with β-Diketone Copolymers

The formation conditions and luminescence of Tb(III) complexes with synthesized copolymers of unsaturated acetylacetone derivatives with styrene and methyl methacrylate were studied. The luminescence intensity of these Tb(III) complexes was found to depend on the β-diketone substituent nature (CH₃, CF₃, C₆H₅) and structure (linear, branched) and the β-diketone to monomer ratio in the polymerizing mixture.     

Synthesis of Difluoromethyl Thioethers from Difluoromethyl Trimethylsilane and Organothiocyanates Generated In Situ

A copper‐CF₂H complex generated in situ from copper thiocyanate and TMS? CF₂H smoothly converts organothiocyanates into valuable difluoromethyl thioethers. This reaction step can be combined with several thiocyanation methods to one‐pot protocols, allowing late‐stage difluoromethylthiolations of widely available alkyl halides and arenediazonium salts. This strategy enables the introduction of difluoromethylthio groups—a largely unexplored substituent with highly promising properties—into drug‐like molecules.     

On the geometry and internal rotation of XSCF3 compounds (X = F,Cl and CF3)

The molecular structures (r_α⁰ values) for XSCF₃ with X = F, Cl and CF₃ have been determined by electron diffraction of gases. While the geometry (C-F bond length and FCF angle) of the CF₃ groups and the bond angle at the sulfur atom depend very little on the substituent X, the S-C bond length increases with decreasing electronegativity of X from 1.805 (3) Å for X = F to 1.824 (6) Å for X = Cl. Torsional force constants for the CF₃ groups were derived from vibrational amplitudes. A strong increase of this force constant is observed between FSCF₃ (f_τ = 0.09 (2) mdyn Å) and CISCF₃ (f_τ = 0.18 (5) mdyn Å). The torsional frequencies derived from the electron diffraction experiment agree very well with the values observed in the far IR spectra for CISCF₃, and CF₃SCF₃. A force field for CF₃SCF₃ has been derived from IR and Raman data.     

含亚胺和胆甾烯基不对称液晶二聚体的合成及介晶性

报道含亚胺和胆甾烯基不对称液晶二聚体化合物XC₆H₄N＝CHC₆H₄OC₁₀H₂₀COOCh* [X＝OC_nH_2n＋1, (n＝1～12,14), F, Cl, Br, CH₃] (1a～1q)的合成及液晶性. 目标化合物通过600 MHz ¹H NMR和元素分析进行了结构表征. 其介晶性通过偏光显微镜(POM)和差示扫描量热计(DSC)进行了研究. 结果显示: 所有化合物都具有胆甾相(N*). 对于烷氧基系列(X＝OC_nH_2n＋1), 有部分化合物还呈现了近晶A相(S_A), 且随着末端烷氧链长度的增加, 化合物的清亮点呈现缓慢下降的趋势, 而化合物从胆甾相到各向同性液体转变的熵变(ΔS_N*→I)则呈现奇-偶效应. 同时我们对比研究了取代基X对胆甾相稳定性的影响, 发现取代基X对胆甾相的稳定性高低顺序为: MeO＞Cl＞Br＞Me＞F. 这些结果证实了末端取代基的改变对化合物的相转变温度以及介晶性质有显著的影响.     

Effect of alkyl chain length in the terminal ester group on mesomorphic properties of new chiral lactic acid derivatives

Two series of new liquid crystalline lactic acid derivatives with a terminal ester group have been synthesised. The effect of this ester unit and the length of its alkyl chain on the mesomorphic and dielectric properties of the compounds exhibiting a broad temperature range of chiral smectic phases have been studied. We found that the mesomorphic behaviour and phase transition temperatures are strongly affected by the molecular architecture. Depending on the alkyl chain length in the terminal ester unit, the studied materials exhibited paraelectric smectic A*, ferroelectric tilted smectic C* and antiferroelectric smectic C_A* phases over a broad temperature range. The physical properties of the compounds have been studied by optical polarising microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, electro-optic measurements, small-angle X-ray scattering and dielectric spectroscopy. Furthermore, the homologues with short terminal alkyl chains showed a very small layer shrinkage at the transition from the orthogonal SmA* to the tilted SmC* phase, which is a characteristic feature of ‘de Vries-type’ behaviour.     

Nonlinear optical properties of some side chain copolymers based on benzoxazole containing chromophores

Acrylate‐methylmethacrylate copolymers have been synthesized for nonlinear optical applications. Acrylate monomer units are characterized by the presence in the side chain of phenylbenzoxazole groups containing electron donor‐electron acceptor substituents. The phase behavior of all polymers has been investigated by DSC, X‐ray diffraction and polarizing microscopy: two of them exhibit liquid crystalline behavior of smectic type. For four polymers, nonlinear optical properties have been examined by second harmonic generation measurements on thin films (∼ 1 μm thickness) electrically poled by corona discharge. Second order susceptibility coefficients d₃₃ and average relaxation times 〈τ〉, relative to the time stability of the chromophore poling, have been measured. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 603–608, 1999     

New Nitro-Laterally Substituted Azomethine Derivatives; Synthesis,Mesomorphic and Computational Characterizations

Two new homologues series, based on two rings of the azomethine central group bearing the terminal alkoxy group of various chain lengths, were prepared. The alkoxy chain length varied between 6 and 16 carbons. The other terminal wing in the first series was the F atom, and the compound is named N-4-florobenzylidene-4-(alkoxy)benzenamine (In). The second group of compounds included a lateral NO₂ substituent in addition to the terminal F atom, named N-(4-fluoro-3-nitrobenzylidene)-4-(alkyloxy)aniline (IIn). Mesomorphic and optical properties were carried out via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). Elemental analyses, FT-IR, and NMR spectroscopy were carried out to elucidate the molecular structures of the synthesized groups. Mesomorphic investigations indicated that all the synthesized homologues (In) were monomorphic, possessing the smectic A (SmA) phase monotropically, while the second group (IIn) members were non-mesomorphic. The experimental data indicated that the formation of the mesophase is affected by the protrusion of the lateral nitro group. The disruption of the mesophase in the second group was attributed to the increase of its molecular width, which affects its lateral intermolecular interactions. The computational simulations were in agreement with the experimental data. On the other hand, the location of NO₂ group within the molecular geometry increased the melting temperature of the molecule, and thus, affected their thermal and physical properties. By discussing the estimated parameters, it was found that the molecular architecture, the dipole moment, and the polarizability of the investigated compounds are highly affected by the electronic nature and position of the terminal and lateral substituents as well as their volumes.