Cyanobiphenyl-based liquid crystal dimers and the twist-bend nematic phase

ABSTRACT

The synthesis and characterisation of several members of the 1,ω-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) alkane (CBnCB) and the 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)-ω-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) alkane (CBnOCB) homologous series are reported. The new odd members described CB5CB, CB13CB, CB4OCB, CB8OCB and CB10OCB all exhibit twist-bend nematic and nematic phases. The members of these series already reported in literature, CB7CB, CB9CB, CB11CB and CB6OCB, were also prepared in order to allow for a direct comparison of their transitional properties. The properties of these dimers are also compared to those of the corresponding members of the 1,ω-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4,-yloxy) alkanes (CBOnOCB). For any given total spacer length, for odd members of these series, the nematic–isotropic transition temperatures and associated entropy changes are greatest for the CBOnOCB dimer and lowest for the CBnCB dimer. These trends are understood in terms of molecular shape. For short spacer lengths, the twist-bend nematic–nematic transition temperature (T_NTBN) is higher for the CBnOCB series than for the CBnCB series but this is reversed as the spacer length increases. Of the CBOnOCB dimers, a virtual value of T_NTBN was estimated for CBO3OCB and T_NTBN was measured for CBO5OCB. These values are considerably lower than those observed for the corresponding members of the CBnCB or CBnOCB series. The dependence of T_NTBN on molecular structure is discussed not only in terms of the molecular curvature but also in the ability of the molecules to pack efficiently. As the temperature range of the preceding nematic phase increases, so the twist-bend nematic–nematic transition entropy change decreases and the transition approaches second order for the longer spacers. For comparative purposes, the transitional behaviour of the even-membered dimers CB6CB, CB5OCB and CBO4OCB is reported and differences accounted for in terms of molecular shape.     

Azobenzene-based liquid crystal dimers and the twist-bend nematic phase

ABSTRACT

The synthesis and characterisation of two new sets of non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers is reported, the 1-(4-substitutedazobenzene-4′-yloxy)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)hexanes (CB6OABX) and 1-(4-substitutedazobenzene-4′-yloxy)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)pentanes (CBO5OABX). The terminal substituents are methyl, methoxy, butyl, butyloxy, nitrile and nitro. All the CB6OABX dimers exhibit twist-bend nematic (N_TB) and nematic (N) phases. The CBO5OABX dimers also all show an N phase but only the butyl and butyloxy homologues exhibit the N_TB phase. The transitional behaviour of the non-symmetric dimers is compared to that of the corresponding symmetric dimers, the 1,5-bis(4-substitutedazobenzene-4′-yloxy)pentanes (XABO5OABX) and either 1,7-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)heptane or 1,5-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)pentane. The XABO5OABX dimers all show a nematic phase and in addition, the butyl homologue exhibits a smectic A phase. The difference in transitional behaviour between the CB6OABX and CBO5OABX dimers is attributed to the difference in their molecular shapes arising from different bond angles between the para axis of the cyanobiphenyl unit and the first bond in the spacer. Specifically, the all-trans conformation of a CBO5OABX dimer is more linear than that of the corresponding CB6OABX dimer. Differences within each set of dimers are attributed to changes in the average molecular shape and the strength of the mixed mesogen interaction on varying the terminal group. Crystal structures are reported for CB6OABOMe, CBO5OABNO₂ and MeOABO5OABOMe.     

Sulfur-linked cyanobiphenyl-based liquid crystal dimers and the twist-bend nematic phase

ABSTRACT

The synthesis and characterisation of two series of cyanobiphenyl-based liquid crystal dimers containing sulfur links between the spacer and mesogenic units, the 4?-[1,ω-alkanediylbis(thio)]bis-[1,1?-biphenyl]-4-carbonitriles (CBSnSCB), and 4?-({ω-[(4?-cyano[1,1?-biphenyl]-4-yl)oxy]alkyl}thio)[1,1?-biphenyl]-4-carbonitriles (CBSnOCB) are described. The odd members of both series show twist-bend nematic and nematic phases, whereas the even members exhibit only the nematic phase. An analogous cyanoterphenyl-based dimer, 3⁴-{6-[(4?-cyano[1,1?-biphenyl]-4-yl)thio]-hexyl}[1¹,2¹:2⁴,3¹-terphenyl]-1⁴-carbonitrile (CT6SCB), is also reported and shows enantiotropic N_TB and N phases. The transitional properties of these dimers are discussed in terms of molecular curvature, flexibility and biaxiality. The same molecular factors also influence the birefringence of nematic phases. Resonant X-ray scattering studies of the twist-bend nematic phase at both the carbon and sulfur absorption edges were performed, which allowed for the determination of critical behaviour of the helical pitch at the transition to the nematic phase, the behaviour was found to be independent of molecular structure. It was also observed that despite the different molecular bending angle and flexibility, in all compounds the helical pitch length far from the N-N_TB transition corresponds to 4 longitudinal molecular distances.     

Formation of periodic zigzag patterns in the twist-bend nematic liquid crystal phase by surface treatment

ABSTRACT

Zigzag patterns were successfully generated in the twist-bend nematic (N_TB) phase of 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)hexane (CB6OCB) via simple surface treatment. A detailed microscopy study using polarised optical microscopy and fluorescence confocal polarising microscopy was performed to observe the director arrangement in the zigzags, where distinctive periodic patterns were found to be aligned perpendicular to the rubbing direction. These patterns originate from the structural instability and generation of splay deformation with focal conic domain-like structures that are typically found in smectic phases, revealing that the N_TB phase has physical properties similar to those of the smectic phase. Observation of these unusual zigzag patterns in the N_TB phase opens an avenue for use of this phase in potential applications such as optical modulators and gratings.     

Magnesium and calcium surfactants Ternary phase diagrams of magnesium and calcium dodecylsulphate with decanol and water

The isothermal ternary phase diagrams for the systems magnesium dodecylsulphate-decanol-water at 40 °C and calcium dodecylsulphate-decanol-water at 50 °C are determined by water deuteron NMR and polarizing microscopic studies. In the magnesium system, three liquid crystalline phases (lamellar and normal and reverse hexagonal) and two isotropic (normal and reverse) solution phases are characterized and their ranges of existence are obtained. The calcium system yields the same liquid crystalline phases, but only the lamellar liquid crystalline phase is investigated in detail. The important observations made are: (i) The lamellar liquid crystalline phase for the magnesium and calcium systems can incorporate, respectively, a maximum of 22.5 and 14.3 mole water per mole surfactant ion against 139 mole water for the corresponding sodium system. (ii) The reverse hexagonal liquid crystalline phase is formed for both the magnesium and calcium systems while no such liquid crystalline phase exists for the corresponding sodium system. (iii) The²H NMR quadrupole splittings obtained in the liquid crystalline phases for C₈SO ₄ ^– and C₁₂SO ₄ ^– surfactant systems with different counterions (Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺,Be²⁺,Na⁺) reveal that surfactant hydration is almost independent of alkyl chain length and counterions.     

Ion mobility,phase transitions,and ion transport in potassium-ammonium hexafluorozirconates

The mobility of fluoride and ammonium ions (180–480 K) in compounds K_{2? n} (NH4)_nZrF₆ (0.2 ≤ n ≤ 1.70) was investigated by ¹⁹F and ¹H NMR. Correlations have been found between the composition of the cation sublattice, the character of ion motions, and phase transition temperature in these compounds. The hightemperature modifications with n ≥ 0.85 of the compounds are characterized by translational diffusion of fluoride and ammonium ions and by uniaxial anisotropy of the ¹⁹F magnetic shielding tensor. The electrophysical characteristics of these compounds were studied in the temperature range 300–480 K.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance of donor atoms as a tool for determination of the structure of platinum metal complexes in solutions

Data on the NMR spectroscopy of C, N, O, Si, P, and Sn donor atoms of platinum metal complexes in solutions are surveyed. The chemical shift of a donor atom mainly depends on the ligand in the trans-position (due to the trans-effect). The chemical shift of a donor atom on a particular coordinate of the complex (coordinate shift, CSh) is an attribute of this coordinate and can be used to identify such a coordinate in platinum metal complexes and to determine the structures of complexes. Based on the known data, CSh diagrams were composed for ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁴N, ¹⁷O, ¹⁹F, ³¹P, and ¹¹⁹Sn. Examples of using the CShs for determining the structures of platinum metal complexes in solutions are presented.     

13C and1H NMR spectra of substituted dihydropyrroles prepared by the reaction of 2-aminooxazoles and maleimide

Substituted dihydropyrroles were characterized by¹³C and¹H NMR spectra. The spectral patterns of these compounds and reversible hydrogen—deuterium exchange are discussed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 697–700, April, 2000.     

Steroid polyols from the Far-Eastern starfish Henricia sanguinolenta

A new polyhydroxylated steroid (20R,24S)-5-cholestane-3,6,15,24-tetraol and a known glycoside, laeviuscoloside G, was isolated from the Far-Eastern starfish Henricia sanguinolenta, collected in the sea of Okhotsk, and characterized.     

Triton X-100体系层状液晶结构及其润滑性能

用小角Ｘ射线衍射和＾２ＨＮＭＲ方法测定ＴｒｉｔｏｎＸ－１００／ｎ－Ｃ１０Ｈ２１ＯＨ／Ｈ２Ｏ体系层状液晶的结构。用高速环块磨损试验机考察了不同组分含量的层状液晶对铝合金－钢磨擦副润滑性能的影响。结果表明：随着水含量的增加,层次液晶两新双层中分子的有序度降低,润滑效果也降低;随着ＴｒｉｔｏｎＸ－１００含量增加,层状液晶两亲双层中分子的有序度增加,其润滑效果提高。     

Ionic mobility and structure of fluorozirconates Rb2? x (NH4) x ZrF6 ( x > 1.5) by NMR, x-ray structure analysis, and impedance spectroscopy

The ionic mobility in the temperature interval 180 to 480 K, structure, and electrophysical properties of rubidium-ammonium hexafluorozirconates Rb_2−x (NH₄) _x ZrF₆ (1.5 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) are studied by methods of the ¹⁹F, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, x-ray structure analysis, differential thermal analysis, and impedance spectroscopy. Correlations between the composition of the cationic sublattice, the character of ionic motions, and the phase transition temperature (of the type order-disorder) are established in these compounds. The salient feature of the high-temperature modifications of these fluorozirconates with x ≥ 1.5 is the translation diffusion of ions inside the fluoride and ammonium sublattices and the ¹⁹F NMR spectra are characterized by monoaxial anisotropy of the magnetic shielding tensor of the fluorine nuclei. Fluorozirconates with x > 1.5 are shown to belong with the structural type (NH₄)₂ZrF₆. The rubidium cations isomorphically replace the ammonium cations. The electrophysical characteristics of the compounds are examined in the temperature interval 300 to 480 K. It is established that the electroconductivity of these compounds increases with x. Original Russian Text ? V.Ya. Kavun, A.V. Gerasimenko, A.B. Slobodyuk, N.A. Didenko, N.F. Uvarov, V.I. Sergienko, 2007, published in Elektrokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 563–570. Based on the paper delivered at the 8th Meeting “Fundamental Problems of Solid-State Ionics”, Chernogolovka (Russia), 2006.     

On the regioselectivity of alkylation of the (trimethylsilyl)tetramethylcyclopentadienide anion. A new approach to the synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetramethylfulvene

The regioselectivity of alkylation of lithium (trimethylsilyl)tetramethylcyclopentadienide C₅Me₄SiMe₃ ⁻Li⁺ was studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy using its reactions with MeI, MeOTs, ClCH₂CH₂Br, and ClCH₂CH₂I in different solvents as representative examples. Sterically non-hindered MeI and MeOTs presumably attack the C atom bonded to the silyl group giving 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienylsilane. For bulkier alkyl halides, such as ClCH₂CH₂Br and ClCH₂CH₂I, the regioselectivity of alkylation changes to form preferentially gem-dialkyl-substituted cyclopentadienes. The reaction of C₅Me₄SiMe₃ ⁻Li⁺ with formaldehyde affords 1,2,3,4-tetramethylfulvene in a high yield, providing an alternative synthetic approach to a number of ω-functionalized peralkylated cyclopentadienes. The quantum-chemical calculations of the C₅Me₄SiMe₃ ⁻ anion by the RHF and DFT (RMPW1PW91) methods in the valence-split 6-311+G(d,p) basis set are in good agreement with the experimental data.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2089–2093, October, 2004.     

Synthesis of optically active hydridocarbonyl triosmium clusters with terpene derivatives as ligands. Molecular structure and absolute configuration of a cluster with a bridging dihydroimidazole ligand

Reactions of the triosmium clusters Os₃(CO)₁₁(NCMe) (1) and Os₃(CO)₁₀(NCMe)₂ (2) with terpene derivatives,viz., (1S,3S,4R,6R)-3-(N,N-dimethylamino)-4-amino-3,7,7-trimethylbicyclo [4.1.0]heptane (3). (3bR,4aR)-(3,4,4-trimethyl-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydrocyclopropa [3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)acetic acid (4a), and (3bR,4aR)-3-(3,4,4-trimethyl-3b, 4,4a,5-tetrahydrocyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)propionic acid (4b), were studied. A complex with the terminally coordinated ligand is formed in the first step of the reaction of diamine3 with cluster1. Heating of the resulting complex is accompanied by activation of one of the methyl groups of the ligand to form diastereomers with the bridging tricyclic dihydroimidazole ligand. One of these diastereomers was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and its absolute configuration was established. Pyrazolycarboxylic acids react with cluster2 as simple organic acids and are coordinated as a bridge at the Os—Os bond through the carboxyl group. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1447–1454, August, 2000.     

Pentamethylated derivatives of [60]fullerene: X-ray structure of the C60Me5H and ESR spectroscopy evidence for the stable radical C60Me5

Single-crystal X-ray study of 6,9,12,15,18-pentamethyl-1,6,9,12,15,18-hexahydro(C₆₀-I_h)[5,6]fullerene (C₆₀Me₅H) has been reported. In crystal packing, the stacking self-organization of molecules is realized. It is concluded that the formation of such polar columns is a general rule for crystals of C₆₀R₅H independent of the nature of the R group. An ESR spectrum of the stable fullerenyl radical of the cyclopentadienyl-type, C₆₀Me₅, was observed in a sample of the pentamethylated[60]fullerene. Rotation of methyl groups around C-C bonds is restricted on the ESR scale time and therefore protons within each methyl group are non-equivalent.     

Dimethylthallium(III) complexes with picolinic acid and its hydroxyl derivatives

The reaction of dimethylthallium(III) hydroxide with picolinic acid (Hpic), 3-hydroxypicolinic acid (H₂3hpic) and 6-hydroxypicolinic acid (H₂6hpic) in an aqueous/methanol mixture afforded the complexes [TlMe₂(pic)] (1), [TlMe₂(H3hpic)] (2) and [TlMe₂(H6hpic)] (3), respectively. Complex 3′, [NaTlMe₂(6hpic)₂]_n, was obtained as a minor product from a methanolic solution of 3. Compounds 1–3 were characterized by IR and Raman spectroscopy and, in the cases of 1, 2 and 3′, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 3′ is the first example of an H6hpic⁻ heterobimetallic compound to be isolated. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of 1 and 2 are also discussed.     

Steroid compounds from the starfish Lysastrosoma anthosticta collected in the Sea of Japan

Six polyhydroxylated steroids and their derivatives were isolated from the starfish Lysastrosoma anthosticta collected in the Posyet Bay, Sea of Japan. These include a new glycoside of the steroid polyol, lysastroside A (1), which was identified as (25S)-26-O--d-xylopyranosyl-5-cholestane-3,6,8,15,16,26-hexaol, and the previously known pycnopodioside C monoglycoside (2), marthasterone sulfate (3), (25S)-5-cholestane-3,6,8,15,16,26-hexaol (4), (25S)-5-cholestane-3,6,7,8,15,16,26-heptaol (5), and (25S)-5-cholestane-3,6,7,8,15,16,26-heptaol (6). The compounds were tested for the haemolytic activity and the action on the embryogenesis of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius.     

Quantitative <Superscript>2</Superscript>H NMR spectroscopy

The selectivity of deuterium distribution between the nonequivalent positions in 3-carene (1), 4-α-acetyl-2-carene (2), and 4-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2-carene (3) has been measured by ²H-{¹H} NMR spectroscopy at the natural abundance of deuterium. These “H/D-isotope portraits” were shown to be typical of terpenes and terpenoids produced in plants via the biosynthetic DXP pathway. The mechanism of acylation of 1 was studied by the density functional theory method (PBE functional, TZ2p basis set). The six-membered ring in compound 1 is planar. However, the endo attack of electrophiles on this ring is more favorable both kinetically and thermodynamically. It was shown both experimentally and theoretically that the elimination of a hydrogen atom in the second reaction step proceeds stereoselectively at the C(2) atom from the anti position with respect to the three-membered ring and occurs with pronounced nucleophilic assistance from the carbonyl group. For Part 2, see Ref. 1. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1657–1664, August, 2008.     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of redox-responsive N-ferrocenoyl amino acid esters; the X-ray crystal structure of N-ferrocenoyl alanine methyl ester; electrochemical anion recognition and H NMR complexation studies

The N-ferrocenoyl amino acid ester derivatives FcCOR {Fc=(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)} where R=Gly(OMe) 1, Gly(OEt) 2, Gly(OBn) 3, l-Ala(OMe) 4, l-Ala(OEt) 5, l-Leu(OMe) 6, l-Leu(OEt) 7, l-Leu(OBn) 8, l-Phe(OMe) 9 and l-Phe(OEt) 10, were prepared by coupling ferrocene carboxylic acid with the appropriate amino acid ester starting materials using the 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) protocol and these have been characterised by spectroscopic techniques. The electrochemical anion sensing behaviour of compounds 1-10 with several anions using a platinum microdisk working electrode is described, together with ¹H NMR anion complexation studies. The X-ray single crystal structure of N-ferrocenoyl-l-alanine methyl ester 4 has been determined and contains two molecules which differ slightly in conformation in the asymmetric unit of space group P2₁ (No. 4); principal dimensions are amide N(H)CO 1.224(6) and 1.231(6) Å, ester CO 1.220(10) and 1.190(7) Å, with N-H?OC(amide) as the primary intermolecular hydrogen bond, N?O 2.992(6) and 2.971(6) Å and with graph set C(4).     

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of palladium(II) complexes with some alkyl derivates of thiosalicylic acids: Crystal structure of the bis(S-benzyl-thiosalicylate)-palladium(II) complex, [Pd(S-bz-thiosal)2]

S-Alkyl (R = benzyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl) derivatives of thiosalicylic acid and the corresponding palladium(II) complexes were prepared and their structures were proposed on the basis of infrared, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The cis geometrical configurations of the isolated complexes were proposed on the basis of an X-ray structural study of the bis(S-benzyl-thiosalicylate)-palladium(II), [Pd(S-bz-thiosal)₂] complex.Antimicrobial activity of the tested compounds was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) in relation to 26 species of microorganisms. The tested ligands, with a few exceptions, show low antimicrobial activity. The palladium(II) complexes, [Pd(S-R-thiosal)₂], have statistically significant higher activity than the corresponding ligands. The complexes [Pd(S-et-thiosal)₂] and [Pd(S-pro-thiosal)₂] displayed the strongest activity amongst the all tested compounds. The palladium(II) complexes show selective and moderate antibacterial activity and significant antifungal activity. The most sensitive were Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus.     

Styryl dyes. Synthesis and study of the solid-state [2+2] autophotocycloaddition by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction

New styryl dyes of the pyridine and benzothiazole series were synthesized with the aim of investigating the solid-state [2+2] autophotocycloaddition (PCA) reaction. The ¹H NMR spectroscopy showed that for most of the compounds under study, the visible light irradiation of thin polycrystalline films of the dyes affords cyclobutane derivatives. The rate of the photoreaction depends on the structure of the dye and is higher for compounds, which contain a short N-substituent in the heterocyclic moiety and have strong absorption in the visible region. Dyes bearing electron-releasing substituents in the benzene ring undergo the stereospecific PCA in the syn-head-to-tail dimeric pair to give the only rctt isomer of cyclobutane derivatives. Electron-withdrawing and bulky substituents in the benzene fragment of styryl dyes extend the range of the mutual orientations of the molecules in the dimeric pairs, resulting in the formation of two or even four isomeric cyclobutanes in the PCA reactions. The structures of some dyes were established by X-ray diffraction. In the overwhelming majority of the structures, one of two packing modes, either syn-head-to-tail or syn-head-to-head, with extensive stacking interactions is observed. A rare example of the anti-head-to-head stacking mode was found for the dicationic dye containing the bulky N⁺(Et)Me₂ substituent in the benzene ring. The syn-head-to-tail and anti-head-to-head stacking modes can facilitate the PCA reaction due to the close spatial proximity of the ethylenic bonds and their parallel orientation in the dimeric pairs of the dye molecules. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1797–1819, September, 2007.