New liquid-crystalline isothiocyanates with high clearing points, low viscosities and strong nematic character

Bi-, tri- and tetra-ring liquid-crystalline compounds with an isothiocyanate group in the terminal position of the molecule and with an ethylene group in the central position have been synthesized. Phenyl, cyclohexyl, bicyclo[2,2,2]octyl, 1,3-dioxane and pyrimidinyl were used as the ring systems. Their transition temperatures and melting enthalpies have been determined. The relationship between the order of the rings in the molecule and the clearing points and melting points of the compounds is discussed. It is shown that these compounds are valuable components of liquid crystal mixtures, since they effectively raise their clearing points yet only have a small effect on the viscosity.     

New isothiocyanato liquid crystals containing thieno[3,2-b]thiophene central core

New isothiocyanato liquid crystal (LC) materials based on thieno[3,2-b]thiophene core have been synthesised and characterised. Their mesomorphic and physical properties were evaluated. The results indicate that most of the new compounds exhibit only enantiotropic smectic A phases with high clearing points, and the difluorinated compounds (A3 and A6), in particular, also display a stable nematic phase with low melting points. Compared with the corresponding biphenyl and thiophene-phenyl analogues, these thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-based compounds possess increased birefringence (the highest value found to be 0.40) and mesogenic phase intervals. These new thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-based LCs exhibit a high birefringence and a high clearing point and are of potential use as components of high birefringence mixtures.     

The effect of locations of triple bond at terphenyl skeleton on the properties of isothiocyanate liquid crystals

Three series of new tolanyl benzene isothiocyanate liquid crystals A, B and C were synthesised with lateral fluorine substituent at different positions and 3,5-difluoro terminal groups. Series D and compound E4 with carbon–carbon triple bond connected with the isothiocyanated benzene were also prepared as reference. Their structures were confirmed using infrared spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. The mesomorphic properties, birefringence, dielectric anisotropy and miscibility of these compounds were investigated. Series A exhibits higher clearing points than that of the corresponding compounds D. Series B displays the lowest melting points, the broadest nematic phase temperature range and no smectic phase with increase of the carbon number of alkyl chain. Lateral fluorine in the position of Y (series C) results in an increase of smectic phase. The birefringence (~0.454–0.490) of series A is almost the same as that of the corresponding reference compounds D, while series B shows a decrease of Δn about 0.05 compared with compounds D. For comparison, mixtures formulated by A and B exhibit higher clearing points and better low temperature stability than those of the mixtures based compounds D in the same fraction.     

不对称苯并菲盘状液晶的合成及取代基对介晶性的影响

合成了一系列新型含间位二硝基苯甲酸酯不对称苯并菲盘状液晶化合物2-(3,5-二硝基苯甲酰氧基)-3,6,7,10,11-五烷氧基苯并菲(3a～3f). 通过偏光显微镜(POM)和差示扫描量热计(DSC)对其介晶性进行了研究. 结果显示: 此类化合物有高的清亮点, 稳定的六方柱状相以及较宽的介晶相范围, 且随着软链碳原子数的增加, 化合物的熔点和清亮点均出现下降趋势, 但六方柱状相的有序性却没有发生很明显的变化. 同时通过与其它三类苯并菲盘状液晶2-苯甲酰氧基-3,6,7,10,11-五烷氧基苯并菲(4a～4f), 2-二茂铁甲酰氧基-3,6,7,10,11-五烷氧基苯并菲(5a～5f), 2,3,6,7,10,11-六烷氧基苯并菲(6a～6f)的对比研究, 探讨了酯基, 强吸电子基团, 以及取代官能团体积对介晶性的影响. 证实了苯并菲化合物中分子结构小的变化将引起介晶性大的改变.     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of several compounds with semi-fluorocarbon chains

Several molecules having long semi-fluoroalkyl chains have been synthesized, and their phase transition temperatures measured by texture observation in a polarizing microscope and DSC. The SmC phase is particularly favoured in this series, especially for compounds with a long semi-fluoroalkyl chain. It was found that when the terminal hydrogen atom of the semifluoroalkyl chain of one of the compounds (D) was substituted by a chlorine atom, the liquid crystalline sequence and ranges did not change; however, the clearing and melting points and T_I-SmA and T_SmA-SmC increased by nearly 10°C.     

New isothiocyanatotolane liquid crystals with terminal but-3-enyl substitute

Four kinds of new but-3-enyl-based isothiocyanate liquid crystals composed of tolane core and but-3-enyl terminal group (A1–A4) were synthesised via seven step reactions based on 2-(4-bromophenethyl)-1,3-dioxolane, and four n-butyl analogues B1–B4 as comparison structures were also prepared. The mesomorphic properties and physical properties of the compounds were investigated. Single fluorinated compounds A2 and A3 exhibit monotropic nematic phase, and they have lower melting enthalpy and higher clearing points than those of the comparison compounds B2 and B3. The non-fluoro-substituted compound A1 and difluorinated compound A4 exhibit no nematic phase. Replacement of n-butyl chain by but-3-enyl as terminal group is enabled to increase birefringence (Δn ~ 0.394–0.430) and reduce rotational viscosity. These isothiocyanatotolanes with terminal but-3-enyl substitution have potential application for high birefringence mixtures.     

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.     

New banana-shaped mesogens with bromine-substituted central core

Banana-shaped five-ring mesogens derived from either isophthalic acid or 4-bromoisophthalic acid have been synthesized. It is shown that the melting and clearing points of the bromine-substituted compounds are markedly decreased in comparison with the analogous unsubstituted compounds. On the basis of X-ray diffraction studies and NMR measurements, as well as dielectric and electro-optical investigations, the mesophase of these compounds could be identified as a B₂ phase.     

New liquid-crystalline heteroalicyclic compounds

Abstract

A wide variety of new sulphur-containing heteroalicyclic liquid-crystalline compounds have been synthesized. Special attention has thus been focussed on the influence of the heteroatoms on the mesomorphic behaviour. 2-Cyclohexyl substituted 1,3-dithianes and 1,3-oxathianes have been found to be superior to those with 2-phenyl substituents. The clearing temperatures of the 2-phenyl-1,3-dithianes depend on the electron donating or electron accepting properties of the substituents attached to the phenyl group. The mesophase stability of the 2-cyclohexyl substituted (hetero)alicycles increases in the order: 1,3-dioxane < 1,3-oxathiane < cyclohexane < 1,3-dithiane. This order is partly reversed for the cyclohexane annulated compounds: 1-oxa-3-thiadecalin < 1,3-dioxadecalin < decalin < 1,3-dithiadecalin. Selected values of the birefrigence and some melting enthalpies have been measured.     

Synthesis and properties of some semi-fluoroalkoxy chain liquid crystals

Six compounds with semi-fluorinated chains have been synthesized. When the terminal hydrogen atom in the semi-fluoroalkoxy chain was changed to chlorine, both the clearing point and the melting point were enhanced. It was also found that the clearing points were decreased and melting points increased with the introduction of a triple bond into the cores.     

Thermal behavior of some cholesteric esters

Taking into account the importance of thermal stability in the liquid crystals field, the study presents thermal behavior of some cholesteric esters, which differ by the nature of the functional group attached to the cholesteryl unit and the connecting position of the nitro or amino functions to the aromatic ring. The cholesteric esters present liquid crystalline properties, with high melting and clearing points and may be used as intermediates in the synthesis of liquid crystals. Some other kinetic characteristics, such as reaction order (n), activation energy (E_a) and pre-exponential factor (lnA) have been also evaluated. The type of functional units adjacent to the aromatic unit determines thermal stability of the cholesteryl compounds. Groups with a powerful withdrawing effect induce a decreasing of the temperatures at which the material starts to lose mass. An increased thermal stability for the amino esters has been observed, probably because of some intermolecular hydrogen bonds formation.     

Substituted 1,4-dicyclohexyl-butan-1-ols A new class of liquid-crystalline compounds

Abstract

1,4-dicyclohexyl-butan-1-ols with a lateral hydroxyl group in the middle part of the molecule exhibit higher clearing temperatures than those of the respective compounds whithout this lateral group. A smectic B-like texture and a low temperature additional phase X were found by microscopic and calorimetric investigations. A further unexpected result was the strong increase of the dielectric constant at the S_B/X transition. These preliminary results are explained in terms of hydrogen bridges.     

The effect of a single atom in the terminal position of a fluorocarbon chain on liquid crystalline properties

Eight series of chiral compounds with semi-fluorocarbon chains have been synthesized. The compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹⁹F NMR and mass spectroscopies and elemental analysis. Their phase transition behaviour was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. Their clearing points increase with an increase of the length of fluorocarbon chain. For a certain compound, when the terminal hydrogen atom in the semi-fluoroalkyl chain was substituted by a chlorine atom, both the clearing point and melting point were increased, and the thermal stability of the chiral smectic C (SmC*) phase was enhanced. However, the clearing point decreased and the melting point increased with the introduction of a triple bond into the core.     

The effect of intermolecular actions on the nematic phase range of tolane-liquid crystals

An approach to understand the effect of intermolecular actions on the nematic stability, a series of tolane compounds nH containing intermolecular π–π stacking, dipole–dipole and hydrogen bond interactions, are developed and investigated. Their mesophase behaviour were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarising optical microscopy (POM), the results show that carboxylic acids nH exhibit high melting points and narrow nematic phase intervals, which are attributed to the too strong intermolecular actions. By disrupting the intermolecular hydrogen bond, their corresponding methyl esters nC have been designed and synthesised. It is interesting to note that these compounds exhibit broad nematic mesophase intervals and low melting points. The above results demonstrate that the interruption of intermolecular actions is an effective way to improve the nematic stability. In addition, the effects of the terminal alkyl chains and the terminal polar groups on the nematic stability were also discussed. Finally, DFT calculations of molecular conformation and dipole moment were conducted to better understanding of the molecular structure–mesomorphic property relationship.     

Improved mesophase stability of benzoxazole derivatives via dipole moment modification

By modifying the molecular dipole moments with lateral monofluorine substituent, improved mesophase stabilities were obtained for novel benzoxazole derivatives, 2-(4?-alkoxy-3-fluorobiphenyl-4-yl)-benzoxazole liquid crystals (coded as nPPF(3)Bx). The series of nPPF(3)Bx with lateral monofluorine substituent ortho to benzoxazole group have larger calculated dipole moments by about 2 D than the corresponding fluorine-substituted analogs (compounds I) with lateral monofluorine ortho to alkoxy group; it is interesting to note that they show lower melting and clearing points but better mesophase stability with wider mesophase ranges for the molecules with both polar (NO₂, Cl) and nonpolar (CH₃, H) terminal groups. Meanwhile, compounds nPPF(3)Bx show greater red-shifted photoluminescence emissions than compounds I, which suggest that π–π interaction between molecules is reinforced by the enhanced dipole–dipole interaction caused by increased dipole moments. These results suggest that modification of the molecular dipole moment is an effective method to improve the mesophase stability of the classical mesogenic compounds.     

含有酯基及酰胺基柔链的苯并菲盘状液晶的合成、分子间氢键对柱状介晶性的影响

合成了三个系列, 共二十四个有两种不同软链的对称和非对称苯并菲盘状液晶化合物, C₁₈H₆(OR)₃- (OCH₂COOEt)₃, C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂COOBu)₃, C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂CONHBu)₃, 其中R＝C₅H₁₁, C₆H₁₃, C₇H₁₅, C₈H₁₇. 化合物通过柱层析纯化, 结构通过¹H NMR, IR, 元素分析等确证. 化合物热稳定性通过TGA测定, 并显示出较高的热稳定性. 通过偏光显微镜和差视扫描量热法对这些化合物的热致液晶性进行了研究. 结果显示: 对于苯并菲液晶化合物C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂COOEt)₃, 非对称性化合物较之对称异构体化合物有更低的熔点和更高的清亮点, 因而非对称性化合物有更宽的介晶温度范围. 对于分子中含有酰胺基的苯并菲液晶化合物C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂CONHBu)₃, 对称化合物有比非对称异构体更高的清亮点和更有序的六方柱状介晶相, 且其与具有同样软链长度的分子中不含酰胺基的化合物系列C₁₈H₆(OR)₃(OCH₂COOBu)₃相比较, 由于柱内分子间氢键的形成, 不仅有更高的熔点和清亮点, 而且有更丰富的柱状介晶相.     

The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of 4-n-alkoxyphenyl 4-[(4-n-alkoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)ethyl]benzoates

4-n-Alkoxyphenyl4-[(4-n-alkoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)ethynyl]benzoates (compound A) are synthesised by a convenient method. These compounds exhibit only enantiotropic nematic phases and have very high clearing points. These compounds (As) can be transformed into corresponding ethane derivatives, via hydrogenation using a palladium catalyst (Pd/C), which exhibit monotropic nematic phases. The effect of the ethylene bridge (–CH₂CH₂–) on the mesomorphic behaviour is discussed.     

Fabrication of vertical alignment liquid crystal cell without forming a conventional polyimide-alignment layer

Two series of asymmetric banana-shaped compounds have been synthesized and studied. In the 1,3-phenylene bis[4-(4′-alkoxybenzoyloxy)]benzoate series the lack of symmetry was derived solely from the difference in length of the two terminal alkoxy chains. In the 3,4′-biphenylene bis[4-(4′-alkoxybenzoyloxy)]benzoate series the asymmetric nature originates from the 3,4′-substitution of the central biphenyl group and from the difference in length of the two terminal chains. All the melting points of the asymmetrical compounds in the series with the central phenyl unit are lower than those of the symmetrical compounds. The liquid crystalline B₁ or B₂ phase was retained in all cases. In the series with the central biphenyl unit the compounds with the shortest chain attached to the para-position of the central biphenyl unit have the lowest melting points. A significant lowering of the melting points in comparison with the symmetrically substituted compounds, however, could not be achieved. All the compounds of both series show a layer spacing which is comparable to those of the symmetrically substituted parent compounds. The observed switching behaviour of both the symmetric and asymmetric compounds with a B₂ phase was antiferroelectric.     

Mixed Platinum(II) Halide Complexes with Sulfur Donors

Abstract

The reaction of platinum(II) halides with stoichiometric amounts of either dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or thiocarbamic ester (L) in acetone yields the complexes cis-[Pt(L)(DMSO)X₂], where L α MTC (EtOSCNHMe), ETC (EtOSCNHEt) or TC (EtOSCNH₂) and X α Cl or Br. The compounds have been isolated and characterized by elemental analysis and by infrared and nmr (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopy. Either dimethyl sulfoxide or thiocarbamic ester coordinate through the sulphur atom. In the MTC and ETC adducts the planar ligand molecule is present in the isomeric form bearing the N-alkyl group in an anti position with respect to the thiocarbonyl group.     

1,2-二芳基乙炔的简便合成及其结构与性能关系研究

1,2-Diarylacetylenes have been synthesized by a facile method consisting of an addition of diaryl ketone with acetyl chloride and the elimination of resultant ethene chloride. Correlation between physical properties and structure of the 1,2-diarylacetylene has been studied by differential scanning calorimeter （DSC）, refractor and electro-optical parameter test instrument. The results show that birefringence was increased with inserting cyclohexyl into the skeleton, but mesophase range, melting and clearing points were reduced with introducing the ethylene bridge in the molecule, and birefringence, viscosity, clearing point and mesophase range could all be decreased with perfluoro alkyl/alkoxyl terminal instead of alkyl/alkoxyl moiety.