Synthesis and characterization of non‐symmetric chiral dimers

A new class of cholesterol‐based non‐symmetric dimers have been synthesized and characterized. They comprise O‐alkylated cinnamic acid and pro‐mesogenic cholesterol segments interlinked covalently through a methylene spacer varying in its length and parity. All the dimers and some of the key precursors have been studied for their phase behaviour. All the intermediates show mesomorphism. Importantly, the thermal properties of dimers are found to be critically dependent on the parity of the flexible spacer. The dimers with odd‐parity spacer display chiral nematic and/or twist grain boundary phases. In contrast, the dimers with even‐parity spacer are either crystalline or exhibit metastable chiral nematic and/or twist grain boundary phases with the exception of one compound for which two unknown mesophases have been observed. The odd–even effect was found to be indistinct for selective reflection wavelengths of the chiral nematic phase. For some dimers, a variation in the pitch of the chiral nematic phase as a function of temperature was observed. Cyclic voltammetry experiments revealed the electrochemical properties of a representative liquid crystal dimer.     

Synthesis and ferroelectric properties of chiral liquid crystals derived from (S)‐1‐propyloxy‐2‐propanol

A new optically active chiral moiety, (S)‐1‐propyloxy‐2‐propanol, was designed and synthesized by the treatment of 1‐propanol with (S)‐propylene oxide under basic conditions. Its derivatives, the (R)‐1‐propyloxy‐2‐propyl 4‐[4‐(4‐alkoxyphenyl)phenoyloxy]benzoates, PPmPPB (m = 8–12), were prepared for the investigation of mesomorphic properties. All of the chiral materials displayed enantiotropic SmA? and SmC? phases, and the shorter alkyl chain members (m = 8–11) displayed an additional unidentified SmX? phase. The switching current, spontaneous polarization, tilt angle, dielectric constant and electro‐optical response for the materials in the ferroelectric SmC? phase were measured. The electro‐optic responses in polyimide film‐coated homogeneously aligned cells exhibit thresholdless, V‐shaped switching in the ferroelectric phase.     

Twin‐like domains in chiral smectic C liquid crystals

In the chiral smectic C phase of liquid crystals with the phase transition N*–SmC*, texture development depending on the sample thickness is reported. In very thin samples, domains of rectangular‐like shape are observed. As two possible tilts of smectic layers are possible for one anchoring direction, smectic layers inside a domain, called twin‐like domains, are tilted with respect to layers in outer regions, similarly to crystalline planes in solid crystalline twins. An elastic model of such a twin domain is proposed and its energy determined.     

Synthesis and characterization of homologous series with chiral (S)‐1‐methylpropyl terminal substituent

Homologous series of liquid crystalline azoesters and azomethine esters consisting of a (S)‐1‐methylpropyl group attached in one of the terminal positions have been synthesized and thermally characterized. All twenty‐four derivatives from both series, namely, the 4‐(4‐n‐alkoxybenzoyloxy)‐4′‐1‐(S)‐methylpropylazobenzenes and 4‐(4‐n‐alkoxybenzoyloxy)benzylidene‐4′‐1‐(S)‐methylpropylanilines exhibit mesomorphism. The lower members of the homologous series show a chiral nematic phase while the higher members show smectic C*, smectic A as well as chiral nematic mesophases. The homologues have been characterized using IR, NMR and UV‐Visible, spectroscopies, X‐ray diffraction and DSC. Their mesomorphic properties are compared with those of structurally related homologous series.     

Ferroelectric liquid crystals derived from (S)‐2‐(6‐methoxy‐2‐naphthyl)propionic acid with non‐fluorinated or semi‐fluorinated alkanes at a chiral terminal chain

Two series of ferroelectric liquid crystals derived from (S)‐2‐(6‐methoxy‐2‐naphthyl)propionic acid, with non‐fluorinated or semi‐perfluorinated alkanes positioned at a chiral terminal chain, have been synthesized and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and electro‐optical measurements. The non‐fluorinated compounds, 1‐hexyl (S)‐2‐{6‐[4‐(4‐alkanoyloxyphenyl)benzoyloxy]‐2‐napthyl}propionates exhibit rich mesomorphism—the BP_II, N*, TGB_A*, SmA* and SmC* phases. The fluorinated compounds display only the SmA* and SmC* phases, suggesting that the fluorination promotes the formation of smectic phases. In addition, the SmA* and SmC* phases of the fluorinated compounds have enhanced thermal stability as compared with the corresponding phases of the non‐fluorinated compounds. The spontaneous polarization (P _s values) for the non‐fluorinated compounds are higher than those of the fluorinated compounds at any reduced temperature below the SmA*–SmC* transition. The electro‐optical responses measured for these compounds in the ferroelectric phase displayed thresholdless, V‐shaped switching.     

Ferroelectric liquid crystals induced by dopants with axially chiral 2,2′‐spirobiindan‐1,1′‐dione cores: diether vs. diester side‐chains

A series of axially chiral 5,5′‐ and 6,6′‐dialkanoyloxy‐2,2′‐spirobiindan‐1,1′‐dione dopants, (R)‐2 and (R)‐4a–4c were synthesized in optically pure form and their ferroelectric polarization powers, δ_p, measured in four liquid crystal hosts with isotropic (I)–nematic (N)–smectic A (SmA)–smectic C (SmC) phase sequences. The results show that the sign of polarization P _S induced by (R)‐2 and (R)‐4a–4c follows the same trend as that previously reported for the 5,5′‐ and 6,6′‐diheptyloxy‐2,2′‐spirobiindan‐1,1′‐dione dopants, (R)‐1 and (R)‐3. The polarization induced by (R)‐2 in the host DFT is below detection limits, and the sign of P _S was found to invert as a function of temperature at mole fractions as low as 0.01. On the other hand, the polarization power of the 6,6′‐diheptanoyloxy dopant (R)‐4b in the host NCB76 is ?1449 nC cm^?2, the fourth highest value reported so far, and more than three times the δ_p value of the 5,5′‐diheptanoyloxy analogue (R)‐2 in that host (+474 nC cm^?2). Results of ²H NMR experiments suggest that (R)‐4b exerts stronger local perturbations in NCB76 than (R)‐2, and that these perturbations may be chiral in nature.     

Applying click chemistry to synthesis of chiral [1,2,3]‐triazole liquid crystals

1,3‐Dipolar cycloaddition of organic azides to triple bonds, or ‘click chemistry’ has been used in order to obtain chiral 1,4‐disubstituted [1,2,3]‐triazoles. Liquid crystalline compounds bearing such heterocycles were prepared and SmA and N* (cholesteric) phases identified. Contact experiments indicated a right‐handed helix (RH‐helix) for the cholesteric phase, and attempts to corroborate experimental and theoretical results are presented.     

Ferroelectric liquid crystal dopants with a chiral (R,R)‐2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chain: host dependence of the polarization power

The polarization powers δ_p of four chiral dopants with (R,R)‐2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chains were measured in four liquid crystal hosts with isotropic (I)–nematic (N)–smectic A (SmA)–smectic C (SmC) phase sequences. The four chiral dopants differ in terms of their core structures: 2‐phenylpyridine (MDW950), biphenyl (5), 2‐phenylpyrimidine (6) and 2‐(3‐nitrophenyl)pyrimidine (7). In each case, δ_p varies with the structure of the liquid crystal host, which is consistent with the behaviour of so‐called Type II dopants that normally feature a chiral core structure. The δ_p(host) profile was found to depend on the degree of biaxiality of the dopant core structure, and on the degree of steric coupling between the chiral 2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chain and the core. Conformational analyses at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level suggest that the 2,3‐difluorooctyloxy side‐chain is conformationally more rigid than conventional chiral side‐chains due to the added electrostatic repulsion of the two adjacent fluoro groups combined with the hyperconjugative ‘gauche effect’, and may therefore have a higher degree of biaxiality on the time average. This biaxial character should make the chiral side‐chain more sensitive to variations in quadrupolar ordering imposed by the SmC phase of the liquid crystal host, and may therefore explain the dependence of δ_p on the host structure reported herein.     

Anomalous behaviour in the SmA*–SmCA* pre‐transitional regime of a chiral swallow‐tailed antiferroelectric liquid crystal

The temperature‐ and electric field‐dependent dielectric relaxation and polarisation of a new chiral swallow tailed antiferroelectric liquid crystal, i.e. 1‐ethylpropyl (S)‐2‐{6‐[4‐(4′‐decyloxyphenyl)benzoyloxy]‐2‐naphthyl}propionate (abbreviated as EP10PBNP), were investigated. The electric field‐induced dielectric loss spectra of EP10PBNP revealed electroclinic and anomalous dielectric behaviour in the chiral smectic A (SmA*)–chiral antiferroelectric smectic C (SmC_A*) pre‐transitional regime. From an analysis of thermal hysteresis of the dielectric constant, electric field‐induced polarisation and dielectric loss spectra, the appearance of a ferrielectric‐like mesophase is observed followed by an unstable SmC_A* phase in the SmA*–SmC_A* pre‐transitional regime.     

Two‐Step Novel Synthesis of 2‐Amino‐6‐(1,3‐dioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐inden‐2‐yl)‐4,7‐diphenyloxepine‐3‐carbonitrile and 5‐(1,3‐Dioxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐inden‐2‐yl)‐2‐imino‐6‐phenyl‐2H‐pyran‐3‐carbonitrile

Starting from indan‐1,3‐dione, a novel two‐step synthesis of the oxepine derivatives 5a,b and the pyran derivatives 7 and 8 under very simple reaction conditions is described.     

Efficient Preparation of ((3‐Chloro‐2‐fluoro‐phenyl)‐[7‐methoxy‐8‐(3‐morpholin‐4‐yl‐propoxy)‐10,11‐dihydro‐5‐oxa‐2,4,11‐triaza‐dibenzo(a,d)cyclohepten‐1‐yl]‐amine) for In‐Vivo Study

An improved route for the preparation of highly functionalized 5,6‐dihydro‐pyrimido[4,5‐b][1,4]oxazepine 1a in multigram quantities was developed. This new methodology was highlighted by the proper methoxy disposition via a regioselective methylation of 2,4,5‐trihydroxy‐benzaldehyde followed by a magnesium sulfate–promoted cyclization.     

Synthesis of C‐Nucleoside Analogues Starting from 1‐(Methyl 3‐O‐benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐altropyranosid‐2‐yl)‐4‐phenyl‐but‐3‐yn‐2‐one

Abstract

1‐(Methyl 3‐O‐benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐altropyranosid‐2‐yl)‐4‐phenyl‐but‐3‐yn‐2‐one (4) was synthesized by the reaction of (methyl 3‐O‐benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐altropyranosid‐2‐yl)ethanal (2) with lithium phenylethynide and following oxidation. Compound 4 and hydrazine hydrate provided the 3(5)‐(methyl 3‐O‐benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐altropyranosid‐2‐yl‐methyl)‐5(3)‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole (5). The reactions of 4 with amidinium salts and a S‐methyl‐isothiouronium salt, respectively, furnished the pyrimidine C‐nucleoside analogues 6a–6c. Treatment of 4 with 2‐aminobenzimidazole afforded 2‐(methyl 3‐O‐benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐altropyranosid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐4‐phenyl‐benzo [4,5]imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine (7a). Compound 4 and sodium azide yielded 2‐(methyl 3‐O‐benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐2‐deoxy‐α‐D‐altropyranosid‐2‐yl)‐1‐[5(4)‐phenyl‐1H(2H)‐1,2,3‐triazole‐4(5)‐yl]ethanone (8).     

Bromination of 4‐Dichloromethyl‐4‐methylcyclohexa‐2,5‐dien‐1‐ones

Bromination of 4‐dichloromethyl‐4‐methylcyclohexa‐2,5‐dien‐1‐one and 4‐dichloromethyl‐3,4‐dimethylcyclohexa‐2,5‐dien‐1‐one has been studied. The reaction conditions required for the formation of mono‐, di‐, and tribrominated products have been optimized.     

Efficient Synthesis of Trialkyl (E)‐3‐{3‐Oxo‐2‐3,4‐dihydro‐2‐(1H)‐quinoxalinylidene}‐prop‐1‐ene‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylates

The reaction of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates with alkyl 2‐[3‐oxo‐3,4‐dihydro‐2(1H)‐quinoxadinylidene]ethanoates in the presence of triphenylphosphine leads to trialkyl (E)‐3‐{3‐oxo‐2‐3,4‐dihydro‐2‐(1H)‐quinoxalinylidene}‐prop‐1‐ene‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylates in good yields.     

Facile One‐Pot Synthesis of 3‐{2‐[5‐Hydroxy‐4‐(2‐hydroxy‐ethyl)‐3‐methyl‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]‐thiazol‐4‐yl}‐chromen‐2‐ones via a Three‐Component Reaction

Reaction of 3‐(2‐bromo‐acetyl)‐chromen‐2‐one with thiosemicarbazide and 2‐acetylbutyro lactone in anhydrous ethanol gave 3‐{2‐[5‐hydroxy‐4‐(2‐hydroxy‐ethyl)‐3‐methyl‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]‐thiazol‐4‐yl}‐chromen‐2‐one in good yields.     

Structure of 2,4,4,5,5‐pentamethyl‐2‐imidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide

The crystal and molecular structures of the stable nitroxide radical 2,4,4,5,5pentamethyl2imidazoline1oxyl3oxide was determined. The N—O bond lengths are 1.279(2) and 1.280(2), respectively. The O^-—N⁺=C—N— O fragment is nearly planar with carbon atoms of the ethyl fragment that deviated from the O—N⁺=C—N—O plane by –0.204(5) and +0.176(5). The minimum intermolecular distance between the oxygen atoms of NO groups is 4.094.     

Facile Synthesis of 2‐Alkylthio‐3‐alkyl‐5‐phenylmethylidene‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐ones

2‐Alkylthio‐3‐alkyl‐5‐phenylmethylidene‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐ones 6 were synthesized by N‐alkylation and S‐alkylation of 2‐thioxo‐5‐phenylmethylidene‐4‐imidazolidinone 5, which was obtained via cyclization of vinyl isothiocyanate 4 with excess ammonium hydroxide (28% NH₃ in water).