Crystal‐smectic E mesophases in a series of 2‐(4‐n‐alkylphenyl)indenes

A series of 2‐(4‐n‐alkylphenyl)indenes (3) with different alkyl substituents (CH₃ to C₁₀H₂₁) were synthesized and systematically characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X‐ray diffraction compared with 2‐phenylindene (3a). Depending on the alkyl chain length, highly ordered crystal‐smectic E mesophases were observed and confirmed by X‐ray diffraction for the derivatives 3h–3k with heptyl to decyl chains (n = 6?9). For 3f with a pentyl side chain (n = 4), an X‐ray crystal structure analysis was carried out.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Polymethacrylates,Polyacrylates, and Poly(Methylsiloxane)S Containing 4-[S(-)-2-Methyl-1-Butoxy]-4′-(ω-Alkanyl-1-OXY)-α-Methylstilbene Side Groups

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, and poly(methylsiloxane)s containing 4-[S(-)-2-methyl-1-butoxy]-4′-(ω-alkanyl-1-oxy)-α-methylstilbene side groups with ω-alkanyl from 11-undecanyl to 2-ethyl are presented. According to both differential scanning calorimetry and thermal optical polarized microscopy analyses, the poly(methylsiloxane)s containing 1-octyl and 1-hexyl as ω-alkanyl groups exhibit enantiotropic S _A and S _C* mesophases. All other polymers display only an enantiotropic S _A mesophase.     

Thermotropic liquid crystals based on ferrocenylbiphenyl and ferrocenylterphenyl

4′‐Ferrocenyl‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐4‐yl 4‐alkoxybenzoates Fc–(C₆H₄)₂–OC(O)–C₆H₄–O–C _n H_2n+1 (n = 8, 10, 12) (3a–c), representing a new class of ferrocene‐containing thermotropic mesogens with nematogenic properties, were prepared. Two approaches were used for the construction of these mesogens: (i) reaction of 4′‐ferrocenyl‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐4‐ol with 4‐alkoxybenzoylchlorides, and (ii) crosscoupling of tris(4‐ferrocenylphenyl)boroxine with the corresponding halobenzenes. Crosscoupling was also applied for the synthesis of terphenyl‐containing mesogens Fc–(C₆H₄)₃–OC(O)–C₆H₄–O–C _n H_2n+1 (n = 10, 12) (6a,b) and (RC₅H₄)Fe‐[C₅H₄–(C₆H₄)₃–OC(O)–C₆H₄–O–C₁₀H₂₁] (11a, R = Et; 11b, R = n?Bu). The latter compounds also form nematic phases. Mesogens 6a,b form mesophases with wider temperature ranges than their biphenyl‐containing counterparts 3b,c. The most pronounced mesomorphism was displayed by compounds 11a and 11b, which have mesophases in the ranges 141–253°C and 120–238°C, respectively. The purity of compounds was established by ¹H NMR spectra and elemental analysis. Mesophases were identified by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry.     

苯丙炔酸和苯丙烯酸酯苯并菲盘状液晶的合成及介晶性

合成了7个含苯丙炔酸和苯丙烯酸酯链的苯并菲盘状液晶化合物C₁₈H₆(OC_nH_2n＋1)₅O₂CR' [R'＝C≡CC₆H₅, n＝4～9 (1a～1f); R'＝CH＝CHC₆H₅, n＝6 (1g)]. 该系列化合物结构通过¹H NMR, IR和元素分析表征. 液晶性通过差示扫描量热法和偏光显微镜进行了研究, 结果显示: 化合物均为六方柱状相热致型液晶; 含苯丙炔酸酯链苯并菲盘状液晶化合物1a～1f, 随着烷氧链的增长, 清亮点呈现逐渐下降的趋势; 对于含苯丙烯酸酯链苯并菲化合物1g与具有同样软链长度的炔基酯链苯并菲化合物1c比较, 具有更低的熔点和结晶点, 而它们的清亮点几乎一致, 因而化合物1g有更宽的介晶性温度范围.     

A new structural type of liquid crystal Crystal structures and thermotropic mesophases of dihydroxytetraalkyldisiloxanes: Columnar phases with hydrogen bonded assemblies

Abstract

Previous structural investigations of mesogenic organosilicon compounds (1, 3-dihydroxytetraalkyldisiloxanes, [R₂(OH)Si]₂O, R = C _n H_2n+1) which form thermotropic phases are outlined. The crystal and molecular structure determination of a non-mesogenic member of this series [Me₂(OH)Si]₂O is described. It is inferred that the mesophases formed by this family of compounds belong to a new structural type with columnar stacks of the molecules laced together with hydrogen bonds.     

Steric effect on the formation of columnar phases in β-diketonate copper(II) complexes

A systematic study of the mesomorphic properties of three series of copper(II) complexes based on β-diketonate ligands containing branched side chains is reported. These disc-like compounds have four, six and eight flexible alkoxy side chains appended to the central core, in which two or four side chains were substituted by bulkier secondary alkoxy groups: 1-methylbutyloxy R ' = C₅(2°) or 1-methylheptyloxy R ' = C₈(2°). The mesomorphic results indicated that at least eight side chains are required to form stable columnar mesophases; other compounds with four or six side chains are not mesogenic regardless of the combination of the carbon length on the alkoxy or secondary alkoxy groups of the side chains. The compounds 3 with shorter R ' = C₅(2°) side chains were all non-mesogenic regardless of the carbon length of three alkoxy side chains (R = C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂) used. However, when the longer 1-methylheptyloxy side chain R ' = C₈(2°) was substituted, the compounds 3b-3e with various alkoxy groups (R = C₆, C₇, C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂) exhibited columnar phases. The mesophases were characterized and identified as columnar hexagonal phases (Col_h), as expected, by thermal analysis and optical polarized microscopy. The presence of the introduced secondary alkoxy groups apparently appeared to influence the formation of columnar phases. The clearing points were relatively lower than other similar copper(II) compounds not substituted by secondary alkoxy side chains.     

Effect of Solubilization in Bitemplate Synthesis of a Homologous Series of Organosilica Mesophases and Mesoporous Molecular Sieves

Peculiarities of bitemplate synthesis of a homologous series of organosilica mesophases (precursors of mesoporous molecular sieves of MCM-41 type) were studied, and an influence of a nature of templating substances and a solubilization on a perfection of their spatial structure was found. n-alkyl(C₈–C₁₈)pyridinium halides as solubilizers (micelle-forming surfactants) and monoethanolamides of saturated n-(C₁₀–C₁₆)aliphatic acids as solubilizate were used. Some physicochemical factors promoting a spatial ordering of organosilica mesophases and mesoporous molecular sieves were considered.     

Effect of orientation of extra fused benzene ring and lateral methyl substituent on the mesophase behaviour of three-ring azo/ester molecules

ABSTRACT

Two homologous series of the three-ring azo/ester compounds 2-(or1-) naphthyl 4?-(4?’-alkoxy phenylazo) benzoates (In_a and IIn_a) were synthesised. A lateral methyl group was introduced in different positions of the alkoxy phenyl moiety, in position-2 to give series In_b and IIn_b and in position-3 to give series In_c and IIn_c. Molecular structures were characterised via elemental analyses, infrared and ¹H-NMR. Their mesophase characteristics were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and their phases identified via polarised light microscopy (PLM). Transition temperatures were correlated with the alkoxy-chain length (n) that varies between 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 carbons. Comparative studies were first made to investigate the effect of including the extra fused benzene ring, and its orientation, into the previously investigated three-ring compounds, 4-phenyl 4?-(4′′-alkoxyphenylazo) benzoates (IIIn_a). Investigation of the mesophase behaviour was extended to cover the effect of introducing the lateral methyl group and its position. The comparison between the present six series and their corresponding phenyl analogues IIIn_a,b,c, indicated that the 2-naphthyl analogues, In_a,b,c, exhibit the highest mesophase stability. Whereas, the steric effect of the protruded naphthalene group destabilises all mesophases and appear only monotropically. The results were discussed in terms of polarisability effect.     

Synthesis and photoswitching properties of bent-shaped liquid crystals containing azobenzene monomers

Three novel bent-shaped monomers, namely 1,3-phenylene bis-{4-[4-(n-allyloxyalkyloxy)phenylazo]benzoate} 5a–c, containing azobenzene as side arms, resorcinol as central units and terminal double bonds as polymerisable functional groups were synthesised and characterised. The mesophase behaviour was investigated by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements and it was found that all three compounds display SmA_intercal mesophases. These bent-shaped molecules exhibit strong photoisomerisation behaviour in solutions in which trans to cis isomerisation takes about 50 seconds whereas the reverse process takes almost 31 hours.     

Liquid-crystalline reference compounds

Abstract

A polar (PCH-5) and a non-polar (152) compound are introduced as liquid-crystalline bench-mark compounds. The materials chosen are affordable, stable, easy to handle and possess nematic mesophases between 30–54·9 and 24–103·4°C. All relevant macroscopic physical properties, such as refractive indices n _o n _e, dielectric permittivities ∥_?, elastic constants K ₁₁, K ₂₂ and K ₃₃, and bulk and rotational viscosities are given as a function of temperature, wavelength and frequency, when applicable. The reference compounds are available from E. Merck, Darmstadt.     

PHOTOCHROMIC LONG-CHAIN ORGANOMERCURY(II) DITHIZONATE COMPLEXES IN THE BIPHENYL SERIES

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of a new series of 4-(4′ -n-alkoxybiphenyl)mercury(II) dithizonates, [C _n H_{2n + 1}OC₆H₄C₆H₄Hg(Hdptc)] (H₂dptc = 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone = dithizone; n = 4, 5, 10, 14 or 18), is described. Meticulous attention to reaction conditions was crucial for the successful synthesis of the intermediate long-chain 4-(4′ -n-alkoxybiphenyl) mercury(II) bromides, which were obtained by room temperature reaction of the 4-alkoxy-4′ -lithiobiphenyl derivatives with HgBr₂ in diethylether. A new, improved procedure was developed for the final dithizone complexation step. A study of the thermal behaviour of the complexes by polarized optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry revealed no mesophases. All of the complexes, however, were reversibly photochromic (yellow ? blue) upon irradiation of chloroform solutions with visible light, and the half-lives of the metastable blue forms were substantially increased relative to that of the parent mercury(II) bis(dithizonate).     

Disc-shaped dinuclear palladium organyls Structure and phase behaviour of charge transfer induced mesophases [1]

Abstract

The recently synthesized non-calamitic/disc-shaped metal organyls containing two palladium atoms and eight flexible side chains represent the first case of metallo-mesogens exhibiting the nematic discotic (N_D) phase [2]. On doping with 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone (TNF), a strong electron acceptor, the stabilization and/or induction of mesophases was observed. The phase behaviour of these binary systems and the structures of the mesophases displayed by them were studied by means of polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray scattering.     

Phase behaviour of star-shaped binary mixtures of triphenylbenzenes,triphenylboroxines and triphenyltriazines

ABSTRACT

Star-shaped nonaalkoxy-1,3,5-triphenyltriazines were prepared and their mesomorphism was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarised optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (WAXS and SAXS). Compounds with chain lengths C₉ – C₁₂ displayed enantiotropic hexagonal columnar mesophases over a wide range of temperature. Their similarity in molecular size and mesomorphism prompted us to study their binary mixtures with previously reported planar 1,3,5-triphenylboroxines and propeller-shaped 1,3,5-triphenylbenzenes. All three compounds are fully miscible in their hexagonal columnar mesophases, but mixtures of planar with propeller-shaped compounds generated columnar stacks that contain only one type of molecule to avoid their shape incompatibility. However, the two types of columnar stacks were fully miscible which circumvented macroscopic phase separation.     

Synthesis of new monodendrons,gallic acid derivatives,self- assembled in a columnar phase

This article describes the synthesis and liquid crystal properties of new compounds that are derived from gallic acid. All the compounds were characterised by ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR), Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and Elemental analysis (CHN). The mesophases of these compounds were characterised using polarising optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and SAXS measurements. The morphology of the surface of the films was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Compounds 9 and 13, which remain in a supercooled state until room temperature, do not exhibit liquid crystalline behaviour. The other compounds (i.e., 5, 7 and 8) self-assemble into tubular supramolecular architectures generating hexagonal columnar (Col_h) mesophases, which was confirmed by SAXS measurements.     

Effect of lateral substitution on supramolecular liquid crystal associates induced by hydrogen-bonding interactions between 4-(4′-pyridylazo-3-methylphenyl)-4′′-alkoxy benzoates and 4-substituted benzoic acids

Five laterally methyl-substituted pyridine-based derivatives of the title compounds (I 8–I 16), with molecular formula 4-C_nH_2n+1O-C₆H₄COOC₆H₃(3-CH₃)-N=N-C₅H₄N were prepared and their molecular formulae elucidated via elemental analyses, infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectra. The number of carbon atoms in the alkoxy chain (n) varies between 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 carbons. The newly prepared pyridine-based derivatives were investigated for their mesophase behaviour by differential scanning calorimetry and polarised optical microscopy; most of them were found to possess monotropic smectic C (SmC) mesophase. Two groups (A and B) of the 1:1 hydrogen-bonded associates, formed between each of the derivatives I 8– I 16 and two types of 4-substituted benzoic acids (II), were prepared and similarly characterised to investigate the effect of lateral methyl substitution on the central phenylene ring, as well as terminal polar substituents and alkoxy-chain length on the stability of the mesophases induced by intermolecular hydrogen bonding. In Group A complexes, mesomorphic 4-alkoxy benzoic acids, that carry the terminal n-alkoxy group of varying chain length, were used. The other series of complexes (Group B) is composed from the same pyridine-based derivatives and each of the non-mesomorphic 4-substituted benzoic acids that carries small compact polar groups, varying between CH₃O, CH₃, H, Cl, Br, and CN. All complexes prepared were investigated for their mesophase behaviour by differential scanning calorimetry and polarised optical microscopy and found to be purely smectogenic, possessing SmC as the only mesophase observed. The formation of the hydrogen-bonded complexes was confirmed by constructing their binary phase diagrams, which cover the whole range of concentration of the two complements.     

Layered ionic liquid-crystalline organisations built from nano-capsules [Mo132O312S60(SO4)x(H2O)132−2x](12 + 2x)− and DODA+ cations

Two dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DODA⁺) salts of a new keplerate with the general formula [Mo₁₃₂O₃₁₂S₆₀(SO₄)_x(H₂O)_132–2x]^{(12 + 2x)?} and abbreviated DODA_n?Mo₁₃₂S₆₀ (n = 44, 56) were synthesised and characterised. Both clusters were fully characterised by the combination of Polarised Optical Microscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Small-angle X-Ray Diffraction showing self-organisation in lamellar (L) liquid crystalline phases. We demonstrated that the lamellar periodicity h of the mesophases can be controlled with the number of DODA⁺ associated to the clusters. Finally, these new results were compared to those gained from a previously published analogue, the fully oxo keplerate noted DODA₃₆?Mo₁₃₂ that also self-organise with temperature, but in a slightly more structured lamellar liquid crystalline phase.     

Study of internal ring rotation and molecular reorientation in the liquid crystal 5O.7 by deuterium N.M.R. spectroscopy

Abstract

The spectral densities of motion were determined by deuterium N.M.R. relaxation measurements in the nematic, smectic A and smectic C phases of 4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene-d ₁-4′-heptylaniline and 4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene-4′-heptylaniline-2,3,5,6-d ₄. By examining two atomic sites on a 5O.7 molecule, we were able to gain information on the reorientation motion and internal rotation of the aniline ring. It was also found that director fluctuations make some contribution to the spectral density J ₁ (ω). We use the superimposed rotations model to account for the internal ring motion and the small step rotational diffusion model for the molecular reorientation. The derived rotational diffusion constants for the spinning and tumbling motions appear to give physically plausible activation energies in the mesophases of 5O.7.     

Liquid-Crystalline Inositol Ethers,their Syntheses and Columnar Mesophases

Abstract

Syntheses of selected multi-O-alkylethers of the stereoisomeric myo- and scyllo-inositols are described. Necessary conversions of axial hydroxyl groups into equatorial ones have been performed with either potassium superoxide (KO₂) or potassium nitrite (KNO₂) as powerful oxygen nucleophiles for this purpose. Most of the novel cyclitol ethers are thermotropic liquid crystals. Depending on the number, positions, and stereochemical arrangement of alkyl chains attached to the inositol core, these biomolecule mesogens, chemically vicinal diols and a tetrol, show interesting modes of molecular organizations in their columnar liquid-crystalline phases. The architectures of these mesophases are based on hydrogen-bridged multimers. Models for their self-assembled “supramolecular structures” are presented and discussed.     

Dimesogenic liquid crystal consisting of cholesterol and Schiff base moieties: dependence of LC properties on the spacer length and fluorination of the alkoxy tails

The liquid crystalline properties of two series of non‐symmetric liquid crystal dimers consisting of cholesterol and Schiff base moieties interconnected by ω‐oxyalkanoyl spacers of varying length are compared: one series (SBOC‐ n ) carry the octyloxy tail on the Schiff base mesogen, and the other (SBOF‐ n ) a perfluoroheptylmethyloxy tail. In general, compounds with the fluorinated alkoxy tail exhibited mesophases over a much wider temperature range than those with the alkoxy tail. The latter series favoured the formation of more diverse mesophases than the former. SBOC‐4, ‐5 and ‐7, and SBOF‐4, ‐5 and ‐10 formed the chiral smectic C phase.     

Influence of lateral methyl and terminal substituents on the mesophase behaviour of four rings azo-ester liquid crystal compounds

ABSTRACT

The effect of introducing a lateral methyl substitution into the previously investigated laterally neat four-ring analogues, 4-substituted phenylazo phenyl 4?-(4?-alkoxyphenylazo) benzoates (In_a–e), on their mesophase behaviour was investigated for the newly prepared five homologous series of 4-substituted phenylazo phenyl 4?-(3?-methyl-4?-alkoxyphenylazo) benzoates (IIn_a–e). Within each homologous series, the alkoxy group varies between 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 carbons, while the substituent, X, is a polar group that alternatively changes between the electron-donating (CH₃O and CH₃) groups, and the electron-withdrawing (Br and NO₂) groups, including the unsubstituted homologues (IIn_c). Their mesophase stabilities were determined by DSC and phases identified by PLM. The results showed that independent of the alkoxy-chain length or the polarity of the substituent X, the nematic phase is predominant with relatively high stability and wide temperature ranges. All compounds show a good thermal stability in the mesophases domain, except the nitro and Br substituted derivatives bearing short alkoxy chain length. Comparison of the mesophase behaviour was also made between the present series and corresponding three-ring laterally CH_3-substituted azo/ester analogues. UV-vis absorption spectra revealed that derivatives with electron donating or an electron withdrawing groups exhibited redshifts of the π→π* transition compared with unsubstituded derivative.