Amide as Terminal Groups: Synthesis and Properties as New Tolane‐Type Liquid Crystals

A series of novel tolane‐type liquid crystals with amide group as terminal group have been prepared. The terminal amide groups were modified, and the influence of these structural parameters on liquid crystal phases was investigated by polarizing optical microscope (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Three of these new compounds exhibit nematic phase, good thermal stabilities. In general, these liquid crystals with amide as end groups have high melting points and phase transition temperatures, which result from the hydrogen bonds. Based on theoretical calculations, these new molecules with strong electron donating amide as end group have narrower HOMO‐LUMO energy gap and higher dipole moment than tolane.     

Chiral and orientationally ordered fluid mesophases formed by oxadiazole bisaniline based achiral bent mesogens

Development of new liquid crystalline materials exhibiting interesting properties and phases continues to be an enabling enterprise in the forward march of their successful display and non-display applications. The design and synthesis of a homologous series of liquid crystalline bent-core compounds derived from the oxadiazole bisaniline moiety and the phase behavior of three members of the series that exhibit nematic, smectic C, and dark conglomerate phases is reported. The liquid crystalline phases exhibited by these mesogens are characterized using polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray scattering techniques. All three homologs prepared exhibit the nematic phase. Interestingly, the homolog with short hexyl terminal chains exhibits only the nematic phase that is stable over a very broad, nearly 100 K wide, temperature range. The compound with terminal octyl chains shows the chiral dark conglomerate phase below the nematic phase despite the bent molecules being achiral. The homolog with dodecyl alkyl chains is found to possess the smectic-C and two additional lamellar phases besides the nematic phase. These compounds enrich the library of achiral bent-core materials capable of exhibiting chiral and nematic phases.     

U-Shaped dimeric liquid crystals derived from phthalic acid

Details of the transitional properties of four homologous series of U-shaped liquid crystal materials, the benzene-1,2-di-(4-carboxyalkoxybenzylidene-4-n-alkylanilines), are presented. The spacers incorporate 3 to 6 methylene units, whilst terminal aliphatic chain lengths are varied from 1 to 12 units. Members of the two homologous series with an odd number of methylene units in the spacer form nematic and smectic phases as a function of terminal chain length. Materials with an even number of methylene units in the spacer are purely smectogenic, and in both series the first two homologues form only smectic B phases. For all four series the higher homologues show the phase sequence SF/I-SC-SA-I. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that these smectic phases are composed of molecules arranged in bilayers.     

液晶性芳香酰胺化合物的合成

合成了一系列炖粹以酰胺基为中心桥键的刚性芳香酰胺小分子化合物，并对其作了表征，发现其中有些化合物具有液晶性。酰胺键之间能形成很强的分子间氢键，使芳香酰胺小分子化合物的熔点很高，难于形成液成液晶态。研究发现，如果在这类化合物的中心苯环上引入合适的取代基以减弱分子间氢键，同时引入合适的末端基时，则可使芳香酰胺化合物生成液晶相的能力增强。     

An homologous series of 6-O-n-alkyl-alpha-D-galactopyranoses: synthesis and thermotropic mesomorphic properties

An homologous series of 6- O - n -alkyl- alpha -D-galactopyranoses has been prepared. The length of the terminal chains has been varied systematically and the effect on the liquid crystal transition temperatures studied. Most homologues of the series exhibit enantiotropic smectic A* phases. X-ray analysis indicates a lamellar structure for the smectic A* phase with hydrogen-bonded carbohydrate cores at the layer centre, either with no interdigitation of the tilted terminal alkyl chains but with a high degree of chain melting, or with some degree of chain intercalation. The 6- O - n -alkyl- alpha -D-galactopyranoses possess clearing points at higher temperatures than those of the corresponding n -alkyl alpha -D-galactopyranosides. The introduction of a higher degree of hydrogen bonding by the replacement of the oxygen atom in the ether linkage between the chain and the carbohydrate ring by an amide linkage leads to higher transition temperatures. The dependence of the liquid crystalline behaviour on the position of the same alkyl substituent and the nature of the sugar in the pyranose form, as well as on the anomeric configuration of the liquid crystalline carbohydrates with four hydroxy groups, is reported.     

Stationary phases with special structural properties for high-throughput separation techniques: preparation, characterization and applications

Stationary phases with specific structural properties for high-throughput liquid chromatographic (LC) techniques are described. Special attention was paid to phases with special structural properties, mainly containing internal functional group (e.g. amide). Such materials are generally called "embedded phases". There are phases created in amidation process of aminopropylated silica gel, especially phases based on biological compounds, like phospholipids and cholesterol, which are called immobilized artificial membranes (IAM's). The synthesis and applications of polar embedded amide LC stationary phases were also reviewed. Methods of characterization of synthesized packing materials were presented, with general focusing on spectroscopic measurements like (13C and 29Si CP/MAS NMR and FT-IR), elemental and thermal analysis as well as chromatographic quantitative structure-retention relationships (QSRR) and extended chemometric tests. The potential applications of various dedicated stationary phases in a high-throughput LC screening procedures were also presented.     

Novel bent-shaped liquid crystalline compounds II. Synthesis and properties of the 1,3-bis4-[4-(4-alkyloxybenzoyloxy)benzylidene]aminophenoxypropan-2-ols

A series of new symmetric dimer compounds was synthesized, constaining 2-hydroxy-1,3-dioxypropylene as the central linkage and terminal alkyl chains with different lengths. The chemical structures of the liquid crystal dimers (2ES-n) were examined by FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Their mesomorphism, thermodynamic properties and optical textures were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscope and X-ray diffraction. For homologues with terminal propyloxy and butyloxy chains, no liquid crystalline phase was observed. Homologues with pentyloxy and hexyloxy terminal chains showed nematic phases, while those with heptyloxy, octyloxy, nonyloxy and decyloxy terminal chains displayed nematic phases and smectic phases. The results confirmed that the liquid crystalline phase changes from nematic to smectic as the terminal chain length increases.     

Amide,urea and thiourea‐containing triphenylene derivatives: influence of H‐bonding on mesomorphic properties

The synthesis and thermotropic properties are reported for a series of hexaalkoxytriphenylenes that contain an amide, urea or thiourea group in one of their alkoxy tails. The intermolecular hydrogen bonding abilities of these molecules have a disturbing influence on the formation and stability of the columnar liquid crystalline phases. The stronger the hydrogen bonding the more the liquid crystallinity is suppressed, probably due to disturbance of the π–π stacking of the triphenylene discs. As a direct result, urea‐ and amide‐containing triphenylene derivatives are not liquid crystalline, but several thiourea derivatives show hexagonal columnar mesophases.     

Synthesis and thermotropic behaviour of liquid crystals containing tolane-based mesogenic units

Tolane-based liquid crystal materials with three different terminal groups: trifluoromethyltolanes, cyanotolanes, and nitrotolanes, and with different chain lengths of alkenyloxy groups, have been synthesized. The phase behaviour of these liquid crystal materials has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarized light microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The mesophase behaviour of the materials was shown to be significantly influenced by the polarity of the terminal groups. The trifluoromethyltolanes exhibit an enantiotropic smectic E mesophase and the cyanotolanes exhibit a monotropic nematic mesophase. The most polar among the three types of liquid crystal material; the nitrotolanes do not display any liquid crystalline phases, except for the homologue with an eleven methylene unit chain.     

Dimeric liquid crystalline compounds having a central malonic acid moiety: effect of the length of the spacers and terminal chains

We have studied the liquid crystalline properties of two new series of dimeric compounds consisting of a central malonic acid moiety, polymethylene spacers, and Schiff's base mesogens. In the first series we changed the length of the spacers with the terminal chain fixed as the butoxy group; in the second series we changed the length of the terminal alkyl or alkoxy groups while keeping the spacers fixed as decamethylene groups. In the first series, as the length of the spacer increased, the tendency to form smectic phases grew. In the second series, changing the alkyl terminal chain to the alkoxy terminal group raised the melting and isotropization temperatures. Increasing the length of the terminal group diminished the temperature range for the higher temperature smectic phase. The smectic phases are assigned to be smectic A and crystal smectic E phases.     

Dimeric liquid crystalline compounds having a central malonic acid moiety: effect of the length of the spacers and terminal chains

We have studied the liquid crystalline properties of two new series of dimeric compounds consisting of a central malonic acid moiety, polymethylene spacers, and Schiff's base mesogens. In the first series we changed the length of the spacers with the terminal chain fixed as the butoxy group; in the second series we changed the length of the terminal alkyl or alkoxy groups while keeping the spacers fixed as decamethylene groups. In the first series, as the length of the spacer increased, the tendency to form smectic phases grew. In the second series, changing the alkyl terminal chain to the alkoxy terminal group raised the melting and isotropization temperatures. Increasing the length of the terminal group diminished the temperature range for the higher temperature smectic phase. The smectic phases are assigned to be smectic A and crystal smectic E phases.     

Synthesis and characterization of thiophene-containing liquid crystals

Six series of liquid crystal materials containing a 2,5-disubstituted thiophene unit were synthesized. The liquid crystal compounds obtained were characterized by NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The properties of liquid crystalline phases were investigated as a function of spacer units, number of aromatic core rings and different terminal moieties. Cyano, methoxy and iodo groups were used as terminal groups. It is found that: (i) compounds having one thiophene ring and one phenyl ring connected by an ester group, with a length/breadth value of 2.1, exhibit no mesophase, while other compounds containing two biphenyl rings, with a length/breadth ratio of 2.7, show mesophases; (ii) the polarity of terminal groups and the flexible spacer length significantly affect the thermal behaviour of these compounds; (iii) the nematic transition range of cyano-containing compounds decreases with increasing length of the flexible spacer, and long alkenyloxy chains tend to facilitate the formation of the smectic phase and suppress the nematic phase in all the mesogenic compounds synthesized.     

Synthesis and characterization of thiophene-containing liquid crystals

Six series of liquid crystal materials containing a 2,5-disubstituted thiophene unit were synthesized. The liquid crystal compounds obtained were characterized by NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The properties of liquid crystalline phases were investigated as a function of spacer units, number of aromatic core rings and different terminal moieties. Cyano, methoxy and iodo groups were used as terminal groups. It is found that: (i) compounds having one thiophene ring and one phenyl ring connected by an ester group, with a length/breadth value of 2.1, exhibit no mesophase, while other compounds containing two biphenyl rings, with a length/breadth ratio of 2.7, show mesophases; (ii) the polarity of terminal groups and the flexible spacer length significantly affect the thermal behaviour of these compounds; (iii) the nematic transition range of cyano-containing compounds decreases with increasing length of the flexible spacer, and long alkenyloxy chains tend to facilitate the formation of the smectic phase and suppress the nematic phase in all the mesogenic compounds synthesized.     

Synthesis and physical properties of laterally fluorinated liquid crystals containing 1,3,2-dioxaborinane and cyclohexyl units

Six series of laterally fluorinated liquid crystals containing 1,3,2-dioxaborinane and cyclohexyl units have been synthesized and characterized. Their mesomorphic properties were characterized by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. All these compounds are thermotropic liquid crystalline materials. All three-ring compounds (series A, B and C) and most four-ring compounds (series D, E and F) exhibit only a nematic phase, while some four-ring compounds with long terminal alkyl chains show nematic, smectic A and even smectic B phases. In addition, four compounds containing a 1,3-dioxane unit were prepared, and their mesomorphic properties compared with their 1,3,2-dioxaborinane analogues. The dielectric anisotropies of selected target compounds were determined; some showed a negative anisotropy. The relationships between the properties and chemical structures of these new compounds are discussed.     

Synthesis and thermotropic behaviour of liquid crystals containing tolane-based mesogenic units

Abstract

Tolane-based liquid crystal materials with three different terminal groups: trifluoromethyltolanes, cyanotolanes, and nitrotolanes, and with different chain lengths of alkenyloxy groups, have been synthesized. The phase behaviour of these liquid crystal materials has been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarized light microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The mesophase behaviour of the materials was shown to be significantly influenced by the polarity of the terminal groups. The trifluoromethyltolanes exhibit an enantiotropic smectic E mesophase and the cyanotolanes exhibit a monotropic nematic mesophase. The most polar among the three types of liquid crystal material; the nitrotolanes do not display any liquid crystalline phases, except for the homologue with an eleven methylene unit chain.     

Synthesis and characterization of halogen-containing ferroelectric liquid crystals and side chain liquid crystalline polymers

A new series of ferroelectric liquid crystals and side chain liquid crystalline polymers based on halogen-containing chiral centres has been synthesized. Chemical structures were analysed by NMR. Liquid crystal phases were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. The behaviour of the liquid crystalline phases was investigated as a function of spacer units and differing terminal asymmetric moieties. It was found that phase transition temperatures decreased with increasing length of the oligooxyethylene spacer unit. Differing terminal asymmetric moieties led to differing mesophase phenomena. Furthermore, a wide temperature range (including room temperature) of a chiral smectic C phase was achieved.     

Synthesis and characterization of halogen-containing ferroelectric liquid crystals and side chain liquid crystalline polymers

A new series of ferroelectric liquid crystals and side chain liquid crystalline polymers based on halogen-containing chiral centres has been synthesized. Chemical structures were analysed by NMR. Liquid crystal phases were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. The behaviour of the liquid crystalline phases was investigated as a function of spacer units and differing terminal asymmetric moieties. It was found that phase transition temperatures decreased with increasing length of the oligooxyethylene spacer unit. Differing terminal asymmetric moieties led to differing mesophase phenomena. Furthermore, a wide temperature range (including room temperature) of a chiral smectic C phase was achieved.     

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.     

Liquid crystalline properties of salicylaldimine-based dimers: influence of terminal alkyl chain length and central part

The synthesis and thermotropic properties of four homologous series of salicylaldimine-based dimer liquid crystals are reported. Two 4-(4-alkoxy-2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)benzoyloxy groups are connected to a central part consisting of a 1,3-phenylene, 1,5-pentylene, 2,2-dimethyl-1,5-pentylene or 3,3-dimethyl-1,5-pentylene unit. The terminal alkoxy chains have been varied from 4 to 16 carbon atoms in length. All the compounds exhibit liquid crystalline phases whose behaviour depends on the nature of the central part and the length of the alkoxy terminal chains. All compounds of the series with the central phenyl part exhibit enantiotropic B-phases, and the sequence B₆-B₁-B₂ on increasing terminal chain length was observed. Replacement of the phenyl group with a pentyl central group partly suppresses the formation of B-phases. The longer homologues of this series show the B₁ phase, while the shorter exhibit an intercalated SmC_c mesophase. The introduction of methyl substituents to the pentyl spacer causes the melting points to fall dramatically and the formation of B-phases is totally suppressed. The compounds with the long tails show intercalated SmA_c phases and those with short tails show intercalated SmC_c phases.     

Synthesis, mesomorphic properties and structural study by semi-empirical calculations of amides containing the 1,3,4-thiadiazole unit

The synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of a new series of amides (series 2a-f , 3a-d and 4a-d ) incorporating pyridine and 1,3,4-thiadiazole rings are reported. No homologues of the series 2 show mesomorphic properties. In the series 3 only the highest homologues ( 3d ) displays an enantiotropic SmA mesophase; the compound 3c exhibits a monotropic SmA mesophase, and the homologues 3a , b display no liquid crystal properties. The amides 4b-d display an enantiotropic SmA phases and the first homologue ( 4a ) exhibit only crystalisotropic transition. These series are compared with previously reported Schiff's bases and amide analogues. A structural study by AM1 semi-empirical calculation is also described.