Dimer liquid crystals with bent mesogenic units

Three series of dimer liquid crystals containing an aromatic and a cholesteryl mesogenic unit were synthesized and investigated The compounds within the series differ in the length of the spacer connecting the mesogenic groups. Two of the three series contain an aromatic mesogenic group that is connected to the spacer at a meta-position instead of the para-position. Due to the presence of this bent mesogenic group, the odd-even effect in the transitional properties that is normally observed for dimer liquid crystals is reversed as compared with that of the third series, which contains a para-substituted aromatic mesogenic group. The reversed odd-even effect is found for the isotropization temperatures, the associated enthalpy changes and also for the optical properties.     

Nitro and bromo derivatives of a highly fluorinated thiobenzoate

Several compounds derived from monosubstituted thiobenzoates, with substituents in the meta- or para-position, have been prepared; these contain a thioester spacer between a semifluorinated chain and the rigid core unit. The substituent is either a bromo or a nitro group. Their mesomorphic properties were evaluated using polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The influence of the different substituents on the phenyl core was considered. No mesomorphic behaviour was seen except for one nitro derivative. The introduction of the nitro group in the para-position of the thiobenzoate core leads to a LC transition on heating. As with previous studies, these results show that substitution at the 4 position on a monophenyl core can lead to liquid crystallinity, whereas substitution in the meta-position does not; this supports the view that meta-substitution is not a necessary condition for obtaining a LC phase.     

Odd-even effects in the thermotropic and optical properties of three series of chiral twin liquid crystals

Three series of novel chiral twin liquid crystals consisting of a cholesteryl and a 4'-cyanobiphenyl-4-yloxy group (III) or a 4-cyanophenoxy group (IV) and of a dihydro-cholesteryl and a 4'-cyanobiphenyl-4-yloxy group (V) connected by an alkanoate spacer with a varying number (1-7 and 10) of methylene units were synthesized and their mesogenic properties investigated. Strong odd-even effects were observed as a function of spacer length for the phase transition temperatures, the corresponding entropy changes and the selective reflection wavelengths associated with the chiral nematic phase. The compounds with an even number of methylene units have a smaller pitch than the compounds with an odd number of methylene units. Replacement of the cholesteryl group by a dihydrocholesteryl group results in an larger pitch, whereas replacement of the 4'-cyanobiphenyl-4-yloxy group by a 4-cyanophenoxy group gives a smaller pitch.     

Liquid crystal dimers derived from naturally occurring chiral moieties: synthesis and characterization

Naturally occurring cholesterol and α-chloroalkanoyl units derived from natural α-amino acids (l-valine, l-leucine, and l-isoleucine) have been utilized to prepare three different series of nonsymmetric liquid crystal dimers. Tolane (diphenylacetylene), which is known to possess several promising structural features, has been chosen as the other mesogenic segment to covalently tether with cholesterol through a flexible spacer. In each series, the terminal α-chloro ester group attached to the tolane unit is kept constant, while the length and parity of the spacer have been varied; specifically, three dimers comprising even-parity spacer of varying length, and one compound with an odd-parity spacer constituted a series. The phase behavior of these dimers has been ascertained mainly by polarizing microscopic and calorimetric studies. Except one, all the 11 dimers display enantiotropic mesomorphism. Within the series, clearing temperatures exhibit a dramatic odd-even effect wherein the even-parity dimers possess higher values. In general, the dimers comprising α-chloro ester group derived from l-valine and l-leucine stabilize chiral nematic and/or smectic phase/s, while the compounds with terminal group resulting from l-isoleucine show twist grain boundary phase additionally; this implies that the nature of the α-chloro ester group influences the phase behavior. Notably, an odd-parity dimer with an α-chloro ester group derived from l-valine exhibits a transition from an intercalated smectic A phase to a monolayer (unknown) smectic phase, as evidenced by optical, calorimetric, and X-ray diffraction studies. As representative case, a dimer has been screened for antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method; a notable activity has been found against some microbes.     

Understanding the dependence of the transitional properties of liquid crystal dimers on their molecular geometry

The characteristic feature of liquid crystal dimers, in which two mesogenic groups are linked by a flexible spacer, is often thought to be the strong odd-even effect exhibited by their transitional properties. That is, the nematic-isotropic transition temperature and the entropy of transition are large for dimers with an even number of groups in the spacer in comparison with those for neighbouring dimers with an odd number of groups. However, the magnitude of the odd-even effect along a homologous series of dimers is found to depend strongly on the nature of the link between the mesogenic group and the spacer. This dependence is thought to originate in the variation of the molecular geometry with the linking group, a view which is supported by detailed molecular field theory calculations involving all of the conformational states. Here we are concerned with developing a more transparent understanding of this geometrical effect using a simple model of the dimers in which all of the conformational states are replaced by just two, a linear and a bent conformer. The model has been found to exhibit a strong odd-even effect as well as a nematic-nematic transition when the bond angle is tetrahedral. We have used this model to explore the dependence of the transitional properties of liquid crystal dimers on their geometry by varying the bond angle of the bent conformer. The behaviour predicted by the model for the nematic-isotropic transition is found to be in qualitative agreement with experiment. In addition, the nematic-nematic transition is observed to exhibit a critical behaviour as the bond angle is increased. At the other extreme, when the bond angle is reduced to its limiting value of 90° there is a very strong first order transition between a discotic and a calamitic nematic.     

Synthesis and characterization of new ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a phenyl biphenyl carboxylate mesogenic group and oligooxyethylene spacers

Two series of ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a phenyl biphenyl carboxylate mesogenic group and oligooxyethylene spacers were synthesized. The mesomorphic behaviours of the compounds were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical polarizing microscopy (POM) and powder X-ray diffraction measurements. These series all contain a smectic A (S_A), a chiral smectic C (S_C) and a crystal E (C_r E) phase sequence. The ordered smectic Cr E phase was observed for the short spacer chain (n = 0, 1, 2) homologues of the two series. Moreover, the mesomorphic properties are discussed as a function of the oligooxyethylene spacer length, and the position of the aromatic core rings. These results indicate that the structures with a rigid part (biphenyl group) closer to the flexible spacer chain (oxyethylene unit) tend to form the symmetrical smectic S_A and Cr E phases.     

Cholesterol-based dimeric liquid crystals: synthesis and mesomorphic behaviour

Chiral non-symmetric dimeric liquid crystals consisting of a cholesteryl ester moiety as chiral entity and a biphenyl aromatic core, interconnected through n-butyl (C₄) or n-pentyl (C₅) parity alkylene spacers, have been synthesized and investigated for their liquid crystalline properties. All the dimers exhibit enantiotropic mesophases. The first member of the dimers having the C₄ central spacer exhibit only the chiral nematic (N*) mesophase, while the higher homologues also show smectic A (SmA) and twist grain boundary (TGB) mesophases. The dimers of the other series containing the C₅ central spacer also have stable SmA, TGB and N* mesophases, except for the first which does not show the TGB phase. Both series of compounds show a weak odd-even effect with terminal alkyl chain substitution, while the spacer length has a marked influence on the phase transition temperatures.     

Liquid crystals: a chemical physicist's view

This paper has allowed me the rare opportunity and pleasure of acknowledging those who have played important roles in my scientific career. It has also enabled me to report work in the field of liquid crystals which has gone unpublished. The particular topics have been selected because they illustrate the areas of liquid crystal science with which I have been especially concerned. The predicted phase diagram of mixtures of rods and spheres is both intricate and interesting. The ability to test these predictions experimentally has required the use of quasi-spherical solutes such as tetraethyltin. The reasons for the failure of the experiments to conform to theory are investigated and explained in terms of the orientational order of this flexible molecule, determined using deuterium NMR spectroscopy. The tetrapodes are more exotic tetrahedral structures in which four mesogenic groups are linked to a central atom or group. The massive flexibility of such molecules poses a severe problem for the prediction of their liquid crystal behaviour. Here a solution to this problem is presented and used to predict the dependence of the transitional properties of the tetrapodes on the spacer length and the mode of its attachment to the mesogenic group. The same molecular field approach has been employed to predict the variation of the transitional properties of liquid crystal dimers with the length of the spacer. It is found that for spacers containing about 12 or more atoms the odd-even effect predicted for the transitional properties varies significantly depending on the model used to describe the spacer conformation. That is, whether the torsional angles defining the conformations are taken to be discrete or continuous. Cyanobiphenyl dimers with spacers containing up to 24 atoms have been synthesized to test these predictions. The Gay-Berne potential has proved to be an important model with which to study liquid crystal behaviour using simulation techniques. By joining two Gay-Berne particles together with a flexible ethane link we have constructed a Gay-Berne dimer and have been able to explore the properties of this mesogen. In particular its phase behaviour, the novel structure of the smectic A phase and how the conformational distribution alters with the phase have been studied. Despite its attractive features there are relatively simple systems for which the Gay-Berne potential is not suitable. These include molecules with a spherocylindrical shape and those with a sphere embedded at the centre of such a structure. In fact the shapes of many mesogenic molecules approximate to the former, and certain metallomesogenic molecules have shapes like the latter. The novel Corner S-function potential provides a valuable way to represent such cylindrically symmetric shapes and we use this to simulate the behaviour of these systems. It is found that the sphere has a major influence on the phase behaviour as well as on the crystal structure.     

Effect of pressure on liquid crystal dimers

We report high pressure investigations on a homologous series of liquid crystalline dimeric molecules in which the terminal chain length is kept constant but the length of the methylene spacer connecting the two mesogenic units is varied. We find that unlike the nematic-isotropic transition temperature and associated entropy change, there is no alternation in the slope of the nematic-isotropic phase boundary in the pressure-temperature plane as a function of the length of the spacer group in the molecule. By applying the Clausius-Clapeyron equation we conclude that the volume change at the transition should exhibit a strong odd-even effect. Measurements on the shortest homologue of the series, which is non-mesomorphic, show the expected result that the application of pressure induces mesomorphism in non-mesomorphic compounds.     

Oligomeric liquid crystals: From monomers to trimers

A homologous series of linear liquid crystal trimers, the 4,4′-bis[ω-(4-methoxyazobenzene-4′-yloxy)alkoxy]azobenzenes, has been synthesized and characterized. The transitional properties of the trimers are compared with those of the corresponding series of dimers, the α,ω-bis(4-methoxyazobenzene-4′-oxy)alkanes, and monomers, the 4-methoxy-4′-alkoxyazobenzenes. Characteristically pronounced odd-even effects were seen for the transitional properties of both dimers and trimers on varying the spacer lengths. The clearing temperatures of the trimers were higher than those of the corresponding dimers, but as the length of the flexible spacers was increased this difference became rather small. The ratios of T _NI, and ΔS _NI/R for monomer:dimer and dimer:trimer are discussed. These are very similar to reported values for similar materials, suggesting that there may be a rather general relationship between the transitional properties of liquid crystal oligomers as the number of mesogenic units is increased.     

An enhanced odd-even effect of liquid crystal dimers Orientational order in the α,ω-bis(4'-cyanobiphenyl-4-yl)alkanes

The odd-even behaviour observed for liquid crystal dimers has been predicted to be a sensitive function of the geometry of the link joining the mesogenic groups to the flexible spacer. Here we report the synthesis of two cyanobiphenyl dimers with methylene links, together with a determination of their transitional properties. In particular we have probed their orientational order via the major and biaxial orientational order parameters of a solute molecule, anthracene-d₁₀, using NMR spectroscopy. For comparison we have also determined the corresponding quantities for the cyanobiphenyl dimers with ether links. The enhanced odd-even effect observed for the methylene linked dimers relative to those with ether links is in good accord with theory.     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of a series of cholesterol-based dimesogenic compounds

The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a series of novel dimesogenic compounds containing the cholesteryl ester unit and a phenyl benzoate group are reported. The two mesogenic units of these compounds are linked through dicarboxylic ester bonds, with alkylene spacer lengths of 2, 4, 6 and 8 methylene units. The chemical structures and liquid crystalline properties of this series of compounds were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, hot stage-coupled polarizing microscopy and DSC. The results show that this series of compounds are cholesteric liquid crystals over a wide range, both during heating and cooling, and they exhibit iridescent colours in the liquid crystalline state.     

Cholesterol-based dimeric liquid crystals: synthesis and mesomorphic behaviour

Chiral non-symmetric dimeric liquid crystals consisting of a cholesteryl ester moiety as chiral entity and a biphenyl aromatic core, interconnected through n-butyl (C₄) or n-pentyl (C₅) parity alkylene spacers, have been synthesized and investigated for their liquid crystalline properties. All the dimers exhibit enantiotropic mesophases. The first member of the dimers having the C₄ central spacer exhibit only the chiral nematic (N*) mesophase, while the higher homologues also show smectic A (SmA) and twist grain boundary (TGB) mesophases. The dimers of the other series containing the C₅ central spacer also have stable SmA, TGB and N* mesophases, except for the first which does not show the TGB phase. Both series of compounds show a weak odd-even effect with terminal alkyl chain substitution, while the spacer length has a marked influence on the phase transition temperatures.     

The intercalated smectic A phase. The liquid crystal properties of the α-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yloxy)-ω)-(4-alkyloxycinnamoate)alkanes

A novel system of non-symmetric dimers containing 4-n-alkyloxy-substituted cinnamic acid and cyanobiphenyl groups has been studied. Two series were prepared: in one the flexible spacer was varied in length while the spacer was fixed. The spacer length has a profound influence on the nematic-isotropic transition temperature of these materials and a large odd-even effect is observed for the series. The terminal chain also plays a significant role in determining the liquid crystal phase behaviour: a smectic A phase is exhibited for the ethyl and propyl homologues, in addition to a nematic phase; this smectic phase vanishes for intermediate chain lengths but then reappears for the nonyl and decyl members of the series. X-ray diffraction has revealed the structure of the smectic A phase for the ethyl homologue to be intercalated, whereas that for the decyl compound is interdigitated. The existence of the intercalated smectic A phase has previously been explained in terms of a charge-transfer interaction between unlike mesogenic groups. However, for the non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers described here this specific interaction appears unlikely and we discuss, therefore, other possible mechanisms for the formation of intercalated smectic phases.     

Preparation and evaluation of novel ferroelectric liquid crystalline cyclic siloxane tetramers

Two series of liquid crystalline cyclic siloxane tetramers, one containing the 2-methylbutyl chiral group and the other the 1-methylheptyl chiral group, were prepared to investigate, in a systematic manner, the role of molecular structure of (a) the spacer group, (b) the mesogenic side chain and (c) the chiral end group, on the liquid crystalline behaviour of these novel tetramers. The results from this systematic structure/property correlation study clearly showed the effect of the structure of both the chiral end group and the mesogenic side chain core on the thermal properties and temperature ranges of the SmC* phase (ferroelectric) exhibited by these novel materials. By the appropriate choice of spacer group, mesogenic side chain and chiral end group, a number of cyclic siloxane tetramers exhibiting wide SmC* ranges (ferroelectricity) around room temperature were synthesized.     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of a series of cholesterol‐based dimesogenic compounds

The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a series of novel dimesogenic compounds containing the cholesteryl ester unit and a phenyl benzoate group are reported. The two mesogenic units of these compounds are linked through dicarboxylic ester bonds, with alkylene spacer lengths of 2, 4, 6 and 8 methylene units. The chemical structures and liquid crystalline properties of this series of compounds were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, hot stage‐coupled polarizing microscopy and DSC. The results show that this series of compounds are cholesteric liquid crystals over a wide range, both during heating and cooling, and they exhibit iridescent colours in the liquid crystalline state.     

λ-Shaped liquid crystal trimers with dual terminal cholesteryl moieties: synthesis and concomitant of N*, SmA and cholesteric glassy phases

Two homologous series of λ-shaped chiral liquid crystal trimers composed of a laterally substituted benzylidene-aniline as the central core armed by two cholestryl ester moieties via odd-even alkyl spacer are synthesised. All the compounds are mesogenic exhibiting both chiral nematic (N*) and SmA phases except for trimers bearing long spacers (n = 9–10). A pronounced odd-even effect is observed on the phase transition temperatures and clearing enthalpies when the spacer length is varied in which the even-parity members show higher value. The widening of N* phase upon elongation of the alkyl spacer can be interpreted as a result of the destabilisation of SmA phase. Full recrystallisation from the cholesteric phase upon cooling is not observed for all the compounds bearing long spacer, especially oxydecanoyl spacer. Instead, the anisotropic fluid vitrified to form the cholesteric glassy state characteristic of polymer at low temperature. This finding is also evident from the polarising optical microscope whereby non-crystalline texture which resembles the Grandjean texture with various reflection colours is observed upon cooling to low temperature. The effect of the lateral substituents on the liquid-crystalline behaviour is also discussed.     

Preparation and evaluation of novel ferroelectric liquid crystalline cyclic siloxane tetramers

Two series of liquid crystalline cyclic siloxane tetramers, one containing the 2-methylbutyl chiral group and the other the 1-methylheptyl chiral group, were prepared to investigate, in a systematic manner, the role of molecular structure of (a) the spacer group, (b) the mesogenic side chain and (c) the chiral end group, on the liquid crystalline behaviour of these novel tetramers. The results from this systematic structure/property correlation study clearly showed the effect of the structure of both the chiral end group and the mesogenic side chain core on the thermal properties and temperature ranges of the SmC* phase (ferroelectric) exhibited by these novel materials. By the appropriate choice of spacer group, mesogenic side chain and chiral end group, a number of cyclic siloxane tetramers exhibiting wide SmC* ranges (ferroelectricity) around room temperature were synthesized.     

聚对偶氮氧苯酚酯系列热致性液晶高分子的相转变

合成含有不同亚甲基数（ｎ＝４—１２，１４）的主链型热致性液晶高分子──聚对偶氮氧苯酚二元羧酸酯．用ＤＳＣ和ＦＴＩＲ观测了相转变的奇偶效应，揭示了液晶相转变过程中分子间相互作用力性质的变化．并与聚２，２＇－二甲基对偶氮氧苯酚二元羧酸酯系列进行了比较，讨论了中介单元的对称性对液晶高聚物相转变和对液晶相稳定性的影响．     

Odd-even effects in the phase transition behaviour of novel U-shaped liquid crystals

A homologous series of U-shaped dimeric liquid crystals in which two mesogenic groups are connected via catechol has been prepared and the effects of terminal alkyl chains, alkyl spacers and core structures on the transition properties investigated by means of optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The phase sequence exhibits a pronounced odd-even effect as the length and parity of the spacers is varied, in which the even members favour the nematic and smectic C phases, whereas the odd members favour the nematic and smectic A phases. We discuss the transition behaviour of the U-shaped compounds in terms of molecular shape.