Crystallization kinetics study on higher homologues of benzylidene aniline compounds: impact of phase variant on nucleation process

A systematic kinetic study leading to the crystallization process from the kinetophases (which occur prior to crystal phase) smectic B, crystal G and smectic F is performed on representative compounds of the homologous series p-phenylbenzylidene-p'-alkylanilines (PBnA) and p-n-alkoxybenzylidene-p'-alkylanilines (nO.m) these compounds are p-phenylbenzylidene-p'-nonylaniline (PB9A), p-phenylbenzylidene-p'-tetradecylaniline (PB14A), p-n-pentadecyloxybenzylidene p'-tetradecylaniline (15O.14) and p-n-octadecyloxybenzylidene-p'-nonylaniline (18O.9). The molecular mechanism and dimensionality in crystal growth from the kineto phases are computed from the Avrami equation, while the characteristic crystalline time (t*) at each crystallization temperature is deduced from the individual plots of log t vs. ΔH. The low magnitudes of the dimensionality parameter n infers the occurrence of diffusion-controlled transformations leading to the formation of plates or needles of finite size possessing impinged edges. The degree of variation in the value of n at each crystallization temperature also reveals the existence of an independent nucleation mechanism for any individual member of the series. The influence of the terminal alkyl chain lengths on the rate of crystallization is determined from a comparative study with the reported analogous compounds.     

Phase transition studies in 9O.6 and 9O.8

The variation of density with temperature across different phases for two homologues of the N(4-n-alkyloxybenzylidene)-4'-n-alkylanilines (9O.6 and 9O.8) exhibiting the S_AS_CS_FS_G phase variant is determined. The influence of pretransitional effects in the fluctuation dominated non-linear region in the vicinity of the isotropic-smectic A transition and the nucleation growth analogy of this transition are discussed.     

Pyridinium salt liquid crystals Effect of mesogen extension and alkyl chain length

The thermotropism of 1-n-alkyl-(4-methyl and 4-tolyl)pyridinium bromides were compared for alkyl chain lengths ranging from n = 12 to 22 carbons. A smectic A mesophase is present in both series for the longer chain compounds, n ≥ 16, with the clearing temperature being similar for both series but increasing rapidly with chain length. The series with the elongated mesogen also possesses an ordered mesophase identified as smectic G. The transition between this mesophase and the S_A or isotropic phase in the 4-tolyl series, and the transition to and from the crystalline phase in both series, are affected relatively little by the alkyl chain length. It seems that the S_A mesophase is governed primarily by the amphiphilic character of the substances, whereas elongation of the ionic head group is responsible for the appearance of a more ordered mesophase at intermediate temperatures.     

Coexistence of two different side chain packing structures in a smectic phase of liquid-crystalline side chain polymers

Ten varieties of liquid-crystalline side chain polymers, poly(cholesteryl-ω-(methacryloyloxy)alkanoates) (pChMO-n, n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 15; the carbon number of the alkyl chain), were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and small angle X-ray scattering. On and after the first cooling run from the isotropic state, these polymethacrylates gave the same smectic phase. X-ray investigations showed that pChMO-n with short spacers (n = 1-7) has a two layer (bilayer) S_A packing structure, and pChMO-n with a longer spacer (n= 15) has a single layer (monolayer) S_A packing structure. However, these two types of packing structure appear simultaneously in pChMO-n (n = 9s-11) below their phase transition temperature. To clarify the manner of the coexistence of the two different structures the smectic layer spacing and X-ray diffraction patterns were examined by small angle X-ray scattering at various temperatures.     

Interdigitated smectic A and B mesophases in higher homologues of the 5O.m series

We report the synthesis, characterization and structural studies of the higher homologues of N(4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene)4-n-alkylaniline compounds, viz. 5O.12, 5O.14 and 5O.16 by thermal microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The compounds exhibit N-S_A-S_B, N-S_A-S_B and N-S_A phase sequence variants, respectively. The X-ray results reveal the existence of an interdigitated smectic A phase in 5O.16 and smectic B phase in 5O.14. Results are discussed in light of the available data on the nO.m series     

TGBA phase in a series of propionates containing two stereocenters

A homologous series of chiral materials, (R)-2-pentyl (S)-2-(6-(4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)benzoyloxy)-2-naphthyl)propionates (R,S)PmPBNP (m = 7-14), derived from a naphthalene ring as part of the core structure in conjunction with a chiral tail containing two stereocentres has been synthesized for the investigation. The twist grain boundary smectic A (TGB_A) and smectic C (TGB*_C) phases were characterized by the microscopic textures of compounds packed in two untreated glass slides, Cano wedge cell, or homogeneously aligned cell. It was found that the occurrence of these phases depend remarkably on the nature of alkyl chain length m; in the case of shorter alkyl chain length (m = 7-10), the TGB_A phase behaves as a metastable-like phase mediated between N and S_A phases in a short temperature range, whereas in the longer chain length (m' 11-14), both the TGB_A and TGB_C phases become thermodynamically stable phases with a wide temperature range. Consequently, this series of chiral materials resulted in two different mesophase sequences: N-TGB_A-S_A-S_Cand N-TGB_A-TGB_C. A kind of parquet texture displaying two types of domain with different relative directions of the smectic layer normal was found in the S phase from the materials (m = 9-14) packed in 2 μm homogeneously aligned cells and cooled down from the isotropic liquid without applying an electric field. The magnitudes of spontaneous polarization (P_s) in the S_C and TGB_C phases showed that the P_s values are nearly the same for all compounds at the same temperature below the Curie point. Dielectric measurements revealed no significant occurrence of soft mode switching in the TGB_A phase.     

The mesophases of octa-alkanoyloxy-9,10-anthraquinone

Nine members of the octa-n-alkanoyloxy-9,10-anthraquinone series, ranging from octanoyloxy (n = 8) to hexadecanoyloxy (n = 16) (where n is the number of carbon atoms per chain), were prepared and their mesomorphic properties studied by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. All the compounds studied are mesomorphic with the higher homologues exhibiting two (for n ≧ 12) or even three (for n ≧ 14) columnar mesophases. For n = 8 to 11, the phase sequence is C-D_B-I, where D_B is an optically biaxial mesophase with a two-dimensional pgg symmetry. For n = 12, 13, the phase sequence is C-M₃-D_B-I, where M₃ is a highly ordered phase whose structure has not been identified. Finally for n = 14 to 16, the phase sequence is C-M₃-D_B-D_A-I, where D_A is an hexagonal phase. In all cases, the phases change from high to low order with increasing temperature and all transitions are first order. Compared with the corresponding hexa-substituted naphthoquinones the present series generates larger mesomorphic ranges and the higher homologues exhibit a uniaxial phase which is lacking in the hexa-substituted series. The increase in volume occupied by the aliphatic chains in the octa-substituted series is evidently sufficient to reduce the interaction between the aromatic cores of the different columns to permit the stability of a uniaxial phase.     

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.     

Binary mixtures of smectic A1S with abnormal behaviour

Binary mixtures are composed of compounds belonging to the 4'cyanobiphenyl-4-yl 4'-n -alkylbiphenyl-4 carboxylate homologous series and halogenophenyl 4-(trans-4-n-decylcyclohexyl)benzoate (10XPCHB) have been studied. Compounds CBnAB are smectic A₁ for n ≤ 7 and smectic A_d for n ≥ 8; compounds 10XPCHB are smectic A, only. It was found that the S_Ad phase of compounds CBnAB exhibits ideal miscibility with the S_A1 phase of compounds 10XTCHB, and that the S_A1 phases of both compounds show abnormal behaviour. The S_A1 phase of compounds CBnAB is destabilized and the range of the S_A1 phase is enhanced on the side of 10XPCHB. The reasons for this behaviour are discussed.     

Induced crystal G phase through intermolecular hydrogen bonding VII. Influence of non-covalent interactions on mesomorphism and crystallization kinetics

A series of intermolecular hydrogen bonding complexes, 2,2'-bipyridine: p- n-alkoxybenzoic acids (BP : nABA) was isolated from liquid crystalline p-n-alkoxybenzoic acids (nABA) (where n represents alkoxy carbon numbers, 3 to 10 and 12) and a non-mesogen, 2,2'-bipyridine (BP). The thermal and phase behaviour of these complexes was studied by thermal microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). These studies revealed the induction of tilted smectic F and crystal G phases. The structural elucidation pertaining to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding was carried out by a detailed IR spectral investigation. Comparative crystallization kinectic studies using DSC, performed on two representative compounds, showed different forms of the crystallization process. The magnitudes of the Avrami exponent n suggests two different mechanisms operate for individual members leading to sporadic three-dimensional growth. Nevertheless, an overall unique mechanism is predicted to operate at each crystallization temperature investigated, while the Avrami constant b shows a temperature dependence suggesting a strong influence of alkoxy terminal groups on the rates of nucleation.     

Synthesis and characterization of new ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a (2S)-2-[6-(4-hydroxybiphenyl-4'-carbonyloxy)-2'- naphthyl] propionate mesogenic group and oligo(oxyethylene) spacers

Three series of ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a (2S)-2-(6-(4-hydroxybiphenyl-4'-carbonyloxy)-2'-naphthyl)propionate mesogenic group and oligo(oxyethylene) spacers were synthesized. These obtained liquid crystal compounds were characterized by NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical polarized microscopy (POM), and X-ray powder diffraction measurements. Some of these materials containing four phenyl rings of ester cores (i.e. -Ph-Ph-COO-naph-) and chiral heptyl tail exhibited a rich mesomorphic behaviour, a blue phase (BP), a cholesteric phase (Ch), a smectic A (S_A), a twist grain boundary A (TGB_A), and a chiral smectic C (S_C*) phase. Another series containing four phenyl rings of ester cores and chiral butyl and pentyl chain tails revealed only a S_A phase and a S_C* phase. Moreover, a crystal E phase was observed in the short spacer chain (n = 0 or 1) homologues of three series of compounds. Also, the mesomorphism properties were discussed as a function of spacer units, numbers of aromatic rings of core, and different terminal asymmetric moieties.     

Phase-transition studies of 5O.5 and 9O.4

As part of our detailed comparative studies of groups of liquid-crystalline compounds that belong to a homologous series, we present phase-transition studies of the compounds N-(4-n-pentyloxybenzylidene)4'-n-pentylaniline (5O.5) and N-(4-n-nonyloxybenzylidene)4'-n-butylaniline (9O.4) using different experimental techniques. The compound 5O.5 is reported to exhibit a phase sequence N, S_A, S_C, S_B and S_G, while 90.4 shows the sequence S_A, S_F and S_G. The salient features of our work on 5O.5 are (i) a new smectic F phase is found in place of the reported smectic B phase, which is confirmed by both miscibility and X-ray studies; (ii) the formation of smectic-C-like short-range order in the nematic phase well above the S_A-N transition; and (iii) a large tilt-angle variation in the smectic C phase (0-23·5°C) in a small temperature range (4·1°C). The phase changes across the S_A-I transition, and for the first time across S_F-S_A transition, are carried out by volumetric studies. The detailed inferences of these are also presented.     

Smectic liquid-crystalline phases of F(CF2)7(CHOH)(CH2)8H and F(CF2)9(CHOH)(CH2)10H Comparison with other partially fluorinated molecules

Partially fluorinated alcohols F(CF₂)_m(CHOH)(CH₂)_nH (where m = 7, n = 8 and m = 9, n = 10) exhibit highly ordered smectic liquid-crystalline phases, as confirmed by optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Miscibility studies show that the smectic phases of the two alcohols are not of the same type. The related partially fluorinated ketones F(CF₂)_mCO(CH₂)_nH do not form a detectable mesophase. This is rather surprising since the (more polar) corresponding alcohols and the (less polar) analogous iodides and n-alkanes do. A brief discussion of the results and a comparison among partially fluorinated alkanes with various functional groups are presented.     

X-ray studies of the layer thickness in smectic phases

X-ray investigations of nine smectogenic substances exhibiting the smectic A_d, A₁ and crystalline E phases were performed at various temperatures. X-ray patterns yielded the layer thickness d (A_d, A₁ phases) and orthorhombic unit cell parameters (E phase). The layer thickness of the A_d phase in 4'-n-alkyl-4-cyanobiphenyls (nCBs) has different temperature coefficients for shorter (n = 8-10) and longer (n = 12-14) members, which is explained as resulting from two competing effects: a weakening with temperature of the intermolecular association energy that favours an increase in d, and the increasing number of conformers which reduces the molecular length. A small anisotropy of the thermal expansivity in the smectic phases was found by comparing the linear quantity d(T) with the linearized bulk characteristic of the system, V^-3(T), where V = 1/ρ is the specific volume, ρ is the density. Differences between the slopes of the two quantities are less in the case of the A₁ phase of two nDBTs (5-n-alkyl-2-(4'-isothiocyanatophenyl)-1,3-dioxanes). The present X-ray data and recent results of studies of the low frequency relaxation process in these compounds (under atmospheric as well as elevated pressures) give a consistent picture of molecular reorientations around the short axes in the smectic phases.     

Mesomorphic phase transitions of 4,4'-dialkyloxyquaterphenyls and dialkyl quaterphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylates

The mesogenicities of 4,4'-dialkyloxyquaterphenyls (DAQP) and dialkyl quaterphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylates (DCQP) were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy and miscibility tests. The DAQP homologues, for which the number of carbon atoms in the alkyloxy group (n) is 1-9, showed a S_A phase, and the higher homologues (n = 9-18) showed a Sc phase. The propyl, butyl and pentyl esters of DCQP showed a S_A phase, and the octyl and dodecyl esters showed S_A and Sc phases. The isopropyl, isobutyl, 2-ethylhexyl and cyclohexyl esters showed a Sc phase and the branching of the alkyl group strikingly lowered the mesophase thermal stabilities.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of dimeric alkoxy-substituted tolans

Four homologous series of dimeric tolans of the general formula RC₆H₄C≏C₆H₄O(CH₂)_m OC₆H₄C'CC₆H₄R (m'6-10; R'H, OC₆H₁₃, OC₁₀H₂₁ and OC₁₄H₂₉), denoted further as TOmOT or nOTOmOTOn, according to the number of aliphatic carbon atoms, have been synthesized. Dimers with terminal chains exhibited liquid crystalline behaviour. Crystal-crystal transitions were also observed. Resulting from the optical, thermal and miscibility studies, the following mesophases have been identified: nematic, smectics A and B, and the tilted smectics C and (probably) F or I. In the 6OTOmOTO6 series, a phase with a strong tendency to self-alignment occurred between the nematic and smectic A phases. This phase resembled the nematic in its viscoelastic properties, but also showed focal-conic textures. A transition between this 'intermediate phase' and the nematic was detected only from microscopic observations. On the contrary, the 'intermediate phase'-smectic A transition was also detected by DSC (δH ∼ 1kJ mol^-1). Both tilted (S_c and S_F/I) and non-tilted (S_A and S_B) smectics were observed in the 10OTOmOTO10 series, while only tilted smectic phases were identified in the dimers with longer terminal substituents (14OTOmOTO14). Double melting behaviour was found in 14OTO8OTO14 and 14OTO10OTO14. An alternation of the transition temperatures and enthalpies with the odd-even alternation of the lengths of bridging groups was clearly observed. A correlation between total enthalpies of transition and solubilities of the dimeric tolans is stated.     

Transition metals complexed to ordered mesophases. XIII. Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of potentially ferroelectric Schiff's base palladium(II) complexes

A series of N-[4'-(dodecyloxy)resorcylidene]-4-(RO*)-anilines (HL_n n = 1, R*O = (-)-cis-myrtanyl; n = 2, R*O = (-)-menthyl; n = 3, R*O = S-(-)-β-citronellyl; n = 4, R*O = R-(-)-2-octyl) has been synthesized and the mesomorphic properties investigated. These ligands are able to chelate a metal atom; accordingly three different series of palladium complexes, [(Ln)Pd(Ln)], [(Ln)Pd(Azoxy-6)] and [(L₃)Pd(Ph-Py_n)] (where Azoxy-6 and PhPy_n are cyclopalladated 4,4'-dihexyloxyazoxybenzene and 5-substituted-2-(4-substituted-phenyl)pyrimidine, respectively) have been prepared. The mesogenic HL₃ and HL₄ ligands exhibit a S*_C phase, retained in [(L₃)Pd(L₃)], which changes to a cholesteric phase in [(L₄)Pd(L₄)] and becomes the more ordered S*_H phase in the [(Ln)Pd(Azoxy-6)] (n = 3,4) derivatives. In contrast, in the [(L₃)Pd(Ph-Py_n)] compounds the mesomorphic phase is a S_A phase.     

Induced G phase through intermolecular hydrogen bonding: X. Crystallization kinetics study on two structural isomers

A comparative systematic crystallization kinetics study has been carried out on two distinct novel liquid crystalline isomers, DBA : R :DBA and DBA : H :DBA (where DBA = p-n-decyloxybenzoic acid, R =resorcinol and H =hydroquinone) using differential scanning calorimetry. The kinetics experiment is performed from the crystal G phase (kinetophase), which is a common induced phase in both compounds. The molecular mechanism and dimensionality of crystal growth are studied from the Avrami exponent n while the characteristic crystallization time (t*) at each crystallization temperature is deduced from the individual plots of log t vs. ΔH.     

Phase behavior and surface tensions of amphiphilic fluorinated random copolymer aqueous solutions

Phase behavior and surface tension of aqueous solutions of fluorinated random copolymers [perfluoroalkylacrylate]–[poly(ethyleneoxide)methacrylate], [C_mRf-acrylate]-[EO_n-methacrylate] with fluroalkyl carbon number m = 8, 6, 4, 2 and number of ethyleneoxide unit, n = 9 and 4.5 were investigated as a function of composition and different combinations of m and n. Isotropic solutions are formed at lower temperatures over wide concentration range of copolymer but at higher temperature phase separation occurs. The cloud point of copolymer decreases with decreasing n as well as m, and also with decreasing the number of poly(ethyleneoxide)methacrylate chain per perfluorinatedalkylacrylate chain, suggesting that the copolymers become more hydrophobic on decreasing m and n. Equilibrium and dynamic surface tension measurements show that copolymers become increasingly surface active as m as well as n decrease but the adsorption at the air–water interface is very slow due to bulkiness of the molecules. No clear evidence of the formation of micellar aggregates could be obtained from surface tension–composition curves.     

Liquid crystalline phase transitions for 4,4'”-dialkyloxyquaterphenyl homologues

The liquid crystalline phase transitions of a homologous series of 4,4'”-dialkyloxyquaterphenyls (DAQP) have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The DAQP homologues, for which the number of carbon atoms in the alkyloxy group (n) is 5-9, show a S_A phase, while the higher homologues (n = 9-12, 18) show a S_c phase.