Novel fluorinated liquid crystals. II. The synthesis and phase transitions of a novel type of ferroelectric liquid crystals containing 1,4-tetrafluorophenylene moiety

4-[(S)-2-Methylbutoxycarbonyl]phenyl 4-[(4-n-alkoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)ethynyl]benzoates have been prepared from the starting material 1-pentafluorophenyl-2-trimethylsilylacetylene. Polarizing microscope textural observation and DSC measurements of the phase transitions of these novel compounds showed that they were liquid crystals with chiral smectic C phase (S*_C), smectic A(S_A) and cholesteric (Ch) phases. The effects of the alkoxy chain length on the transition temperatures and enthalpies were also studied.     

Imidazolium‐based polymerized ionic liquid crystals containing fluorinated cholesteryl mesogens

A series of polymerized ionic liquid crystals (PILCs) bearing fluorinated cholesteryl mesogens were synthesized in this work, which include polymerized imidazolium bromides (PIBs) and polymerized imidazolium hexafluorophosphates (PIHs). The PIBs were synthesized using alkyl bromine‐containing polysiloxanes and 1‐butyl‐1H‐imidazole, and the PIHs were synthesized by anion metathesis reaction using the corresponding PIBs and KPF₆. The chemical structures, liquid crystalline (LC) properties, and electrorheological (ER) effect of these PILCs were characterized by use of various experimental techniques. All the PILCs showed smectic A mesophase on heating and cooling cycles. The smectic layer structure of these PILCs are originated from the rigid fluorinated cholesteryl mesogens and the flexible moieties in the LC phase, but the ion pairs (imidazolium cations–PF₆^?, Im⁺–PF₆^?; or imidazolium cations–Br^?, Im⁺–Br^?) can disperse in the polysiloxane matrix and expand the d‐spacing in the smectic layers. The PIHs show lower T_g and T_i than the corresponding precursor PIBs, which is due to the larger ion volume of Im⁺–PF₆^? for PIHs than that of Im⁺–Br^? for PIBs. A series of 40 V% ER fluids were prepared by mixing the PILCs with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and the ER behaviors were studied. All the PILC/PDMS fluids showed ER effect, and the PIH/PDMS fluids show a little greater ER effect than the PIB/PDMS fluids. The PILC droplets in the ER fluids become deformed owing to both the orientation of fluorinated cholesteryl mesogens and the suppression of ionic migration when a DC electric field was applied, resulting in the occurrence of ER effect. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of non-symmetrical liquid crystals containing a cholesteryl ester moiety

In this paper,a series of chiral non-symmetrical liquid crystals(nBA-chol)consisting of a cholesteryl ester moiety as chiral entity and a biphenyl aromatic core with different terminal alkyl chain has been synthesized and investigated for their liquid crystalline properties.Effects of numbers of methylene units in the terminal alkyl chain on the phase transition temperatures and on the temperature-dependent pitch lengths of the chiral liquid crystals have been studied.The long terminal alkyl chain tends ...     

Synthesis of novel nematic liquid crystals containing 3,3'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl

Liquid-crystalline 3,3′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyl derivatives with long 4-(alkoxyphenyl)ethynyl (-C≡C-C₆H₄-OR) groups in the 5,5′-positions were synthesized by palladium-catalysed crosscoupling reactions. The compounds exhibit exclusively nematic behaviour; for example, the hexyl derivative showed a nematic phase over the temperature range 145.2–205.0°C. On increasing the length of the terminal chain, the transition temperatures were lowered; for example, the hexadecyl derivative was nematic in the range 117.0–126.8°C.     

Synthesis of novel nematic liquid crystals containing 3,3'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl

Liquid-crystalline 3,3'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl derivatives with long 4-(alkoxyphenyl)ethynyl (-C=C-C₆H₄-OR) groups in the 5,5'-positions were synthesized by palladium-catalysed crosscoupling reactions. The compounds exhibit exclusively nematic behaviour; for example, the hexyl derivative showed a nematic phase over the temperature range 145.2-205.0°C. On increasing the length of the terminal chain, the transition temperatures were lowered; for example, the hexadecyl derivative was nematic in the range 117.0-126.8°C.     

Laterally substituted naphthalene-2,7-diol-based bent-shaped liquid crystals

Novel series of laterally 1-substitued (H, Cl, CH₃, CN, NO₂) naphthalene-2,7-diol based liquid crystals were synthesized and their mesomorphic properties identified using DSC studies, texture observation, X-ray investigations and electro-optical measurements. Depending on the chain length and type of lateral substitution, the compounds exhibit a variety of mesophases. In materials with short alkyl chains, the rectangular columnar B₁ phase was found. Increasing the alkyl chain length for the non-substituted core causes the appearance of the so-called B_N phase. In CH₃- and Cl-substituted compounds, the antiferroelectric B₂ phase (SmC_AP_A) was found. Introduction of the CN and NO₂ substituents led to the formation of the B₇ phase.     

Terahertz properties of fluorinated liquid crystals

In this article, optical properties of four fluoro-substituted 4-propyl-4′-[(4-ethylphenyl)ethynyl] biphenyls and liquid crystal mixture A are presented in the terahertz (THz) range. Birefringence, refractive indices and absorption coefficients for ordinary and extraordinary ray of liquid crystals are described in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 THz. It shows that the measured parameters are dependent on the number and placement of fluorine atoms in the molecules. Measurements have been performed using time-pulsed spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and transition temperatures of novel fluorinated chiral liquid crystals containing 1,4-tetrafluorophenylene units

To continue the search for novel series of fluorinated ferroelectric liquid crystals, an additional two series of 4-[(S)-2-methylbutoxy]phenyl 4-[(4-n-alkoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)ethynyl] benzoates (C) and 4-(n-alkoxy)phenyl 4-[(4-(S)-2'-methylbutoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl)] benzoates (D) have been synthesized. Polarizing microscopic textural observations and DSC measurements of the phase transitions of these novel compounds showed that compounds C were liquid crystals with a chiral nematic (N) phase and a monotropic chiral smectic C phase (S_c), and compounds D exhibited a chiral nematic (N) phase.     

Preparation and liquid crystalline properties of a new type of hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals containing an aryl-acetylene moiety

A new type of liquid crystals formed through hydrogen bonding between 4-alkoxybenzoic acids and 4-alkoxyphenylethynylpyridines have been investigated by differential scanning calorimeter and polarizing optical microscopy. These materials show a typical nematic phase.     

Preparation and liquid crystalline properties of a new type of hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals containing an aryl-acetylene moiety

A new type of liquid crystals formed through hydrogen bonding between 4-alkoxybenzoic acids and 4-alkoxyphenylethynylpyridines have been investigated by differential scanning calorimeter and polarizing optical microscopy. These materials show a typical nematic phase.     

Effect of the naphthalene moiety on the mesogenic properties of ferroelectric liquid crystals containing diastereomeric propionic acids

Two ferroelectric liquid crystals containing the naphthalene moiety were synthesized from 2(S)-[2(R)-methylhexyloxy]propionic acid and its (S, S)-diastereomer. Their mesogenic properties are compared with those of the analogous mesogens containing the biphenyl ring.     

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 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.     

Effect of the naphthalene moiety on the mesogenic properties of ferroelectric liquid crystals containing diastereomeric propionic acids

Two ferroelectric liquid crystals containing the naphthalene moiety were synthesized from 2( S )-[2( R )-methylhexyloxy]propionic acid and its ( S , S )-diastereomer. Their mesogenic properties are compared with those of the analogous mesogens containing the biphenyl ring.     

新型含氟液晶类化合物的质谱研究

本文报道66个新型含氟液晶类化合物的电子轰击电离质谱(EIMS). 66个化合物分为三个类型, 即炔醚类, 炔酯类和炔类. 并利用MS/MS联用技术和高分辨质谱(HRMS)数据研究了三种不同类型化合物的裂解机理, 并总结其规律性, 结果将有助于未知的类似化合物的结构鉴定 .     

Highly fluorinated thermotropic liquid crystals: an update

Fluorine is used in liquid crystal materials in order to give them particular properties as compared to their hydrocarbon homologues. This leads to use of the new compounds as materials mainly in display devices such as Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystals Display (TNLCD) or for the development of Surface Stabilized Ferroelectric smectic C* display (SSFLCDs). In this paper, we describe recent studies and research effort concerning the liquid crystalline behavior of compounds incorporating a highly fluorinated part with more than one fluoromethylene units. We examine some of their mesophase properties and the impact of molecular shape on the resulting liquid crystal behavior.     

Synthesis of fluorinated naphthylphenylacetylenic and naphthylphenyldiacetylenic liquid crystals

Four series of fluorinated tolanes, naphthylphenylacetylenes and naphthylphenyldiacetylenes were prepared and characterized. Most of the fluorinated tolanes exhibit no mesomorphic behaviour. However, most of the fluorinated naphthylphenylacetylenes and naphthylphenyldiacetylenes form enantiotropic nematic phases. The dielectric anisotropy and birefringence of some selected compounds were measured by a guest-host method. All of those studied show relatively high dielectric anisotropy and birefringence.