Mesogenic benzothiazole derivatives with methoxy substituents

Two new mesogenic homologous series containing 6-methoxybenzothiazole ring at the terminus of the molecule, viz. 2-(4′-n-alkoxyphenylazo)-6-methoxybenzothiazoles and 2-[4′-(4″-n-alkoxy-benzoyloxy) phenylazo]-6-methoxybenzothiazoles were synthesized. In series I,n-butyloxy to n-tetradecyloxy derivatives exhibit nematic mesophase. Smectic A mesophase commences from then-dodecyl-oxy derivative as a monotropic phase and is retained up to the last member synthesized. All the members of series II exhibit enantiotropic nematic mesophase. The mesomorphic properties of the present series are compared with other structurally related series to evaluate the effect of the benzothiazole ring and the methoxy substituent on mesomorphism. This paper was presented at the 10th National Conference on Liquid Crystals held at Bangalore during 9–11 October 2003     

Novel rhodium <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-heterocyclic carbene catalysed arylation of aldehydes with phenylboronic acid

Reaction of 1,3-dialkylperhydrobenzimidazolinylidene, 1,3-dialkyl-4-methylimidazolinylidene and 1,3-dialkylimidazolinylidene with [RhCl(COD)]₂ yields {1,3-dialkylperhydrobenzimidazolin-2-ylidene}-, {1,3-dialkyl-4-methylimidazolin-2-ylidene}- {1,3-dialkylimidazolin-2-ylidene}chloro(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I) complexes (2a–c) and (4a, b). All compounds synthesised were characterised by elemental analysis, n.m.r. spectroscopy. Phenylboronic acid reacts with aldehydes in the presence of a catalytic amount of the new rhodium(I)–carbene complexes (2a–c) and (4a, b), to give the corresponding aryl secondary alcohols in good yield (73–99%).     

Reactions of chlorinated vinylsilanes with hydrogen chloride

Catalytic hydrochlorination of a series of chloro(chlorovinyl)methylsilanes was studied. The course of the reaction depends on the number and position of the chlorine atoms in the initial monomers. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 377–380, February, 1999.     

Cobalt(II) complexes of various thiosemicarbazones of 4-aminoantipyrine: syntheses,spectral, thermal and antimicrobial studies

An interesting series of cobalt(II) complexes of the new ligands: 4[N-(benzalidene)amino]antipyrinethiosemicarbazone (BAAPTS), 4[N-(2′-hydroxy-benzalidene)amino]antipyrinethiosemicarbazone (HBAAPTS) and 4[N-(2′-hydroxy-1′-naphthalidene)amino]antipyrinethiosemicarbazone (HNAAPTS) were synthesized by reaction with Co(II) salts in ethanol. The general stoichiometry of the complexes was found to be [CoX₂(H₂O)(L)] and [Co(L)₂](ClO₄)₂, where X = Cl, NO₃, NCS or CH₃COO and L = BAAPTS, HBAAPTS or HNAAPTS. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity measurement, molecular weight determination, magnetic moments at room temperature, infrared and electronic spectra. All the thiosemicarbazones behave as neutral tridentate (N, N, S) donor ligands. The conductivity measurements in PhNO₂ solution indicated that the chloro, nitrato, thiocyanato and acetate complexes are essentially non-electrolytes, while the perchlorate complexes are 1:2 electrolytes. Thermogravimetric studies were performed for some representative complexes and the decomposition mechanism proposed. Antibacterial and antifungal properties of the ligands and their cobalt(II) complexes have also been examined and it has been observed that the complexes are more potent bactericides than the ligand.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies on reactions of [PtCl(bpma)]<Superscript>+</Superscript> and [Pt(bpma)H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O]<Superscript>2+</Superscript> (bpma = <Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) with some azoles and diazines

Substitution reactions of the complexes [Pt(bpma)H₂O]²⁺ and [PtCl(bpma)]⁺, where bpma is bis-(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, with the nitrogen-donor ligands 1,2,4-triazole, pyrazole and pyridazine were studied in aqueous 0.1 M NaClO₄ using variable-temperature UV–VIS spectrophotometry. The reactions of the aqua complex were studied at pH 2.5, and those of the chloro complex were studied in the presence of 10 mM NaCl to prevent their hydrolysis. The values obtained for the second-order rate constants indicate that the complexes with bpma are more reactive than those with diethylenetriamine. In both cases, the aqua complexes are more reactive than the corresponding chloro complexes. The reactivity of the incoming ligands follows the order: 1,2,4-triazole > pyridazine > pyrazole. Activation parameters were determined for all the reactions, and the negative entropies of activation (∆S^≠) support an A or Ia mechanism.     

Does increased chelation enhance the rate of ligand substitution at PtII (N,N,N) centres? A detailed kinetic & mechanistic study

The rate of substitution of the chloride and aqua moieties from the platinum(II)-amine complexes, viz. [Pt(dien)Cl]Cl(Pt1-Chloro) and [Pt(en)(NH₃)Cl]Cl (Pt2-Chloro) and their corresponding aqua analogues, viz. [Pt(dien)(OH₂)] (ClO₄)₂ (Pt1-Aqua) and [Pt(en)(NH₃)(OH₂)](ClO₄)₂ (Pt2-Aqua), by a series of neutral and anionic nucleophiles,viz. thiourea (TU), 1,3-dimethyl-2-thiourea (DMTU), 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea (TMTU), iodide (I⁻) and thiocyanate (SCN⁻), was determined under pseudo first-order conditions as a function of concentration and temperature using UV/Visible spectrophotometry and standard stopped-flow techniques. The observed pseudo first-order rate constants for the substitution reactions obeyed the simple rate law k _obs = k ₂[Nucleophile]. Second-order kinetics and negative activation entropies, ca. −93 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and −71 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, for the chloro and aqua complexes respectively, support an associative mode of activation. The rate of substitution of both the chloro and aqua moieties are observed to decrease with an increase in the steric bulk of the neutral nucleophiles, whilst rate of substitution by SCN⁻ was observed to be faster than that of I⁻, in correlation with the observed nucleophilicities of the two nucleophiles. A comparison of the second-order rate constants, k ₂, at 298 K, obtained for the substitution reactions of Pt1and Pt2 shows that an increase in chelation in moving from Pt2 to Pt1 results in a corresponding increase in the reactivity, by a factor of ca. 3, (28.31 ± 0.15 and 8.02 ± 0.13 m ⁻¹ s⁻¹ for Pt1 and Pt2 respectively, in the case of substitution of the aqua species by TU). Computational analysis of the chloro complexes, viz. Pt1-Chloro, Pt2-Chloro and [Pt(NH₃)₃Cl]Cl (Pt3) support this conclusion by demonstrating that the Pt–N bond trans to the leaving group is shortened and that the Pt–Cl bond is lengthened when chelation is increased from Pt3 to Pt1. Consequently, these results suggest that the increase in reactivity of Pt1 over Pt2, promoted by increased chelation, is as a result of ground state destabilization.     

Effect of a lateral methyl group on azo-mesogens containing the naphthalene moiety

Two mesogenic homologous series, 2-[4-(4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-methylphenylazo]-naphthalenes (I) and 2-[4-(4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-3-methylphenylazo]naphthalenes (II) with a lateral methyl group have been synthesized. Both series are purely nematogenic. The mesomorphic properties of both series are compared with each other and also with the properties of other structurally related series to evaluate the effect of the lateral methyl group on mesomorphism. The chiral nematic (N*) mesophase was induced in the system by doping with a derivative of naturally occurring chiral menthol.     

Potentially biologically active new substituted anilides of benzo[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thiophene series

New substituted anilides of the heterocyclic series 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 together with the earlier described compounds 1 and 3 (Jarak I et al. (2005) J Med Chem 48:2346), were synthesized from the corresponding heterocyclic carbonyl chlorides, methoxycarbonyl- and cyano-substituted anilines. Compounds 2 and 7 were prepared by methylation with methyl-iodide on the amide and the pyridine nitrogen. The Pinner reaction was used in the preparations of amidino-substituted compounds. It seems that all the prepared compounds could be biologically interesting, especially amidino-substituted anilides prepared in the form of water-soluble hydrochlorides or hydroiodides. Molecular and crystal structures of the three compounds, namely, 4′-methoxycarbonyl-N-phenyl-3-chlorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide (1), N-(4′-amidinophenyl)-3-chlorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide hydrochloride monohydrate (4) and 1-methyl-N-(4-amidinophenyl)-3-pyridine carboxamide iodide hydroiodide (7) have been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffractometry in the solid state. Compounds 1, 4 and 7 are not planar and the amide group (C=O in relation to NH group) is in trans position in all three compounds. The 3-chlorobenzo[b]thiophene moiety in 1 and 4 is oriented with the chloro substituent in cis position in relation to amide NH group. The conformational characteristics of the compounds result from the introduction of different substituents or solvent molecules (water molecule in 4), which leads to various intermolecular hydrogen bonds formation (N–H⋯O, N–H⋯Cl, O–H⋯Cl⁻, N–H⋯I⁻) in 1, 4 and 7. Hydrogen bond formation could be responsible for the potential biological activity of the compounds.     

Synthesis of 1-ethyl-l,2,2-trimethyl-l,2-disilacyclobutane and its spontaneous polymerization and copolymerization with 1,1,2,2 -tetramethyl-1,2 -disilacyclobutane

Dehalogenation of 1-[(chloro)(ethyl)(methyl)silyl]-2-[chloro(climethyl)silyl]ethane with the alkali metal vapors gave l-ethyl-l,2,2-trimethyl-1,2-disilacyclobutane. Its spontaneous ring-opening polymerization at room temperature afforded an amorphous linear polymer with T _g = −75 °C, M _w = 454 200–512 800, and M _w/M_n = 1.87–2.82. According to NMR data, the backbone of the polymer consists of alternating monomeric units linked in the “head-to-tail” (SiMe ₂CH₂CH₂SiMeEtSiMe₂CH₂CH₂SiMeEt) and “head-to-head” ways (SiMeEtCH₂CH₂SiMe₂SiMe₂CH₂CH₂SiMeEt) in a ratio of 1: 0.96. Spontaneous copolymerization of the above disilacyclobutane with 1,1,2,2-tetramethyl-l,2-disilacyclobutane gave partially crystalline copolymers with different glass transition and melting temperatures, depending on the ratio of the components in the reaction mixture. The compositions of the copolymers were examined by ¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy.     

IR and electronic spectra of complex Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript> groups in chloride-fluoride and carbonate-chloride melts

The IR and electronic absorption spectra of molten mixtures in the NaCl-CsCl-NaF-CoCl₂, NaCl-KCl-NaF-CoCl₂, and NaCl-KCl-NaKCO₃-CoCl₂ systems have been studied. The spectral data show that, for all molten mixtures, the composition ranges exist in which chloro fluoro Co(Cl _n F _m )(n + m = 4–6) and carbonato chloro CoCl(CO₃)_{4 − n} (n = 1–3) complex groups are formed at δ₁ < δ₁^* and δ₂ < δ₂^* (δ₁^* = F/Co and δ₂^* = CO₃/Co). At δ₁ ≥ δ₁^* and δ₂ ≥ δ₂^*, the mixtures contain complexes homoligand Co and CoF₆⁴⁻ and Co(CO₃)₄⁶⁻.     

Nucleophilic substitution and cyclization reactions involving quaternized 3-dimethylaminomethyl derivatives of 3,4-bis(indol-l-yl)maleimide and 3-(indol-l-yl)-4-(indolin-l-yl)maleimide

A dialkylaminomethylation reaction (the Mannich reaction) of 3,4-bis(indol-l-yl)-maleimides and 3-(indol-l-yl)-4-(indolin-l-yl)maleimides leads to mono- and di(dimethyl-amino) derivatives at position 3 of one or two indole rings. A series of 3,4-bis(indol-l-yl)-maleimides and 3-(indol-l-yl)-4-(indolin-l-yl)maleimides containing ω-hydroxyalkyloxy-methyl substituents at position 3 of the indole ring was obtained by the reaction of iodomethyl-ates of these compounds with ethylene glycol and other 6h,ω-alkanediols. The reaction of quaternary salts of bis(3-dimethylaminomethylindol-l-yl)maleimides with 6h,ω-alkanediols resulted in the isolation of 3,4-bis(3-ω-hydroxyalkyloxymethylindol-l-yl)maleimides. Upon heating iodomethylate of 3-(3-dimethylaminoindol-l-yl)-4-(indolin-l-yl)maleimide in pyridine, 5,6-dihydro-10-methyl-H-indolo[l′,7a′,7′:4,5,6]pyrrolo[3′,4′:2,3]-[l,4]diazepino[l,7-a]-indole-l,3(2H)-dione was obtained due to the intramolecular alkylation and formation of the bond between position 2 of the indole and position 7 of the indoline rings.     

Synthesis of bis‐intercalators with an aminochloropyrimidine ring as potential anticancer agents

The synthesis of a series of polymethylene chain‐bridged aminochloropyrimidines as potential DNA intercalators is described. N,N'‐Bis(2‐amino‐6‐chloro‐4‐pyrimidyl)‐1,3‐diaminopropane ( 3 ), N,N'‐bis(2‐amino‐6‐chloro‐4‐pyrimidyl)‐1,4‐diaminobutane ( 4 ), N,N'‐bis(2‐amino‐6‐chloro‐4‐pyrimidyl)‐1,6‐diaminohexane ( 5 ), N,N'‐bis(2‐amino‐6‐chloro‐4‐pyrimidyl)‐1,8‐diaminooctane ( 6 ), N,N'‐bis(2‐amino‐6‐chloro‐4‐pyrimidyl)‐1,10‐diaminodecane ( 7 ), and N,N'‐bis(2‐amino‐6‐chloro‐4‐pyrimidyl)‐1,12‐diaminododecane ( 8 ) were synthesized from 2‐amino‐4,6‐dichloropyrimidine ( 1 ) and 1,3‐diaminopropane, 1,4‐diaminobutane, 1,6‐diaminohexane, 1,8‐diaminooctane, 1,10‐diaminodecane, and 1,12‐diaminododecane, respectively. The spectral data and other physical properties of the new compounds are discussed.     

Synthesis,structure, and properties of coordination compounds of copper(II) acetate with substituted 2-{[2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)ethylimino]methyl}phenol

Salicylic, 5-chloro-5-bromo-5-nitro-, 3-methoxysalicylic, 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic aldehydes and 2,3-, 2,4-, and 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde were shown to react in ethanol with 2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethanol in the presence of copper acetate hydrate forming coordination compounds Cu(L^1-9)CH₃COO {HL^1-8, 2-([2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)ethylimino]methyl}phenol (HL¹) and respective chloro(HL²), bromo- (HL³), nitro- (HL⁴), methoxy- (HL⁸), or hydroxy-substituted (HL^5-7); HL⁹, 2-{[2-(2-hydroxyethylamine)ethylimino] methylnaphthol)}. Structure of the complex Cu(L³)CH₃COO was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Coordination polyhedron of its central atom is a distorted tetragonal bipyramid with (4+1+1) modes of coordinating the copper atom. The bipyramid base is formed by the atoms of phenol oxygen and of azomethine and imine nitrogen atoms of the ligand (HL³) and the oxygen atom of the acetate ion. Axial apices of the bipyramid are occupied by the alcohol oxygen atoms of the azomethine (HL³) and the second oxygen atom of the acetate ion. Other complexes are also of monomer structure. Azomethines (HL^1-9) behave as monodeprotonated tetradentate O,N,N,O ligands. The thermolysis of substances includes a stage of complete thermal decomposition (360–530°C). Synthesized complexes show selective antimicrobial activity against a series of standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli at the concentration in the range of 75–300 μg ml⁻¹.     

Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Some Substituted 3-(Aryl)- and 3-(Heteroaryl)indoles

Summary. A synthesis of 3-(4-methoxycarbonyl-2,6-dinitrophenyl)indole, its 2,6-diamino analog, and 3-(2-amino-4-trifluoromethyl-6-nitrophenyl)indole is described. 4-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl derivatives exhibit higher antibacterial potency than the former 4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl homologs, while 3-(4-trifluoromethyl-2-nitrophenyl)indole was the most active agent in the series, with MIC ≈ 7 μg/cm³ against E. coli and S. aureus.     

Electrochemical materials science: tailoring intrinsically conducting polymers. The example: substituted thiophenes

A series of 3-(p-X-phenyl) thiophene monomers (X= –H, –CH₃, –OCH₃, –COCH₃, –COOC₂H₅, –NO₂) was electrochemically polymerized to furnish polymer films that could be reversibly reduced and oxidized (n- and p-doped). The oxidation potentials of the monomers and formal potentials of the n- and p-doping processes of polymers were correlated with resonance and inductive effects of the substituents on the phenyl ring as well as the semiempirically calculated heat of formation of the monomer radical cations. Presented at the 4th Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Greifswald, March 13-16, 2005     

Synthesis and reactions of 2-and 4-substituted furo[3,2-c]pyridines

Substituted furopropenoic acids were prepared from appropriate aldehyde under the Doebner’s conditions. Obtained acids were converted to the corresponding azides, which were cyclized by heating in Dowtherm to furopyridones. These compounds were aromatized with phosphorus oxychloride to chloro derivatives of furo[3,2-c]pyridine (Va, Vb). Chloro derivative Vb was reduced with hydrazine hydrate to 2-(4-aminophenyl)furo[3,2-c]pyridine in ethanol and Pd/C as a catalyst. Chloro derivative Va was converted to 4-amino-2-(3-pyridyl)furo[3,2-c]pyridine under the same conditions. The chlorine atom in other chloro derivatives (VIIa, VIIb) was replaced by nucleophilic substitution with alkoxides (sodium ethoxide, propoxide, and isopropoxide) and the corresponding alkoxy derivatives were formed. By reaction of VII with cyclic secondary amines (morpholine, piperidine, and pyrrolidine) 4-substituted furopyridines were prepared.     

Design of two series of 1:1 cocrystals involving 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine and carboxylic acids

Two series of a total of ten cocrystals involving 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine with various carboxylic acids have been prepared and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The pyrimidine unit used for the cocrystals offers two ring N atoms (positions N1 and N3) as proton‐accepting sites. Depending upon the site of protonation, two types of cations are possible [Rajam et al. (2017). Acta Cryst. C 73 , 862–868]. In a parallel arrangement, two series of cocrystals are possible depending upon the hydrogen bonding of the carboxyl group with position N1 or N3. In one series of cocrystals, i.e. 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–3‐bromothiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), 1 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–5‐chlorothiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), 2 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–2,4‐dichlorobenzoic acid (1/1), 3 , and 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–2‐aminobenzoic acid (1/1), 4 , the carboxyl hydroxy group (–OH) is hydrogen bonded to position N1 (O—H…N1) of the corresponding pyrimidine unit (single point supramolecular synthon). The inversion‐related stacked pyrimidines are doubly bridged by the carboxyl groups via N—H…O and O—H…N hydrogen bonds to form a large cage‐like tetrameric unit with an R₄²(20) graph‐set ring motif. These tetrameric units are further connected via base pairing through a pair of N—H…N hydrogen bonds, generating R₂²(8) motifs (supramolecular homosynthon). In the other series of cocrystals, i.e. 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–5‐methylthiophene‐2‐carboxylic acid (1/1), 5 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–benzoic acid (1/1), 6 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–2‐methylbenzoic acid (1/1), 7 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–3‐methylbenzoic acid (1/1), 8 , 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–4‐methylbenzoic acid (1/1), 9 , and 4‐amino‐5‐chloro‐2,6‐dimethylpyrimidine–4‐aminobenzoic acid (1/1), 10 , the carboxyl group interacts with position N3 and the adjacent 4‐amino group of the corresponding pyrimidine ring via O—H…N and N—H…O hydrogen bonds to generate the robust R₂²(8) supramolecular heterosynthon. These heterosynthons are further connected by N—H…N hydrogen‐bond interactions in a linear fashion to form a chain‐like arrangement. In cocrystal 1 , a Br…Br halogen bond is present, in cocrystals 2 and 3 , Cl…Cl halogen bonds are present, and in cocrystals 5 , 6 and 7 , Cl…O halogen bonds are present. In all of the ten cocrystals, π–π stacking interactions are observed.     

Pyridinium Ylide Assisted Highly Stereoselective One‐Pot Synthesis of trans‐2‐(4‐Chlorobenzoyl)‐3‐aryl‐spiro[cyclopropane‐1,2′‐inden]‐1′,3′‐diones and Their Antimicrobial and Nematicidal Activities

A series of highly stereoselective polysubstituted cyclopropane derivatives were synthesized via one‐pot two‐step tandem reaction starting from pyridine, 4‐chloro phenacyl bromide, 1,3‐indandione and aromatic aldehydes in acetonitrile using triethylamine as catalyst. Pyridinium ylide generated from 4‐chloro phenacyl bromide undergo cyclopropanation with 2‐arylidene‐2H‐indene‐1,3‐dione in situ afford the title compounds. Structures of all the compounds were confirmed by their analytical and spectral studies. Single crystal X‐ray analysis was also performed on compound 4c in order to determine the crystal structure. All the compounds were screened for antimicrobial and nematicidal activities. Significant antimicrobial activity was shown by the compounds derived from 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde ( 4i ) and 4‐(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde ( 4m ) against all the tested bacterial and fungal strains. Compound 4i has shown good activity (48% mortality) against Meloidogyne incognita after 48 h of exposure at 250 µg/mL concentration.     

Synthesis of α,ω-dihalopermethyloligosilanes and silane-siloxane copolymers

α,ω-Dibromopermethyloligosilanes, Br(SiMe₂) _n Br (n=2–4, 6), were prepared by the reaction of dodecamethylcyclohexasilane with bromine. The reaction of (Me₂Si)₆ with MCl₄ (M=Sn, Ti) proceeds with the cleavage of Si−Si- and Si−C-bonds with the formation of α,ω-dichloropermethyloligosilanes, Cl(SiMe₂) _n Cl (n=2–4, 6), and chloro derivatives of cyclohexasilane, Cl _m Si₆Me_12−m (m=1, 2). Silane-siloxane copolymers of regular structure were obtained by heterofunctional copolycondensation of α,ω-dihalopermethyloligosilanes with 1,5-dihydroxyhexamethyltrisiloxane. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1513–1517, August, 1997.     

Effect of lateral substituents on the mesomorphic properties of side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing 4-[(S)-2-methyl-1-butoxy]phenyl 4-(alkenyloxy)benzoate side groups

The synthesis of side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing either 4-[(S)-2-methyl-1-butoxy]phenyl 4-(alkenyloxy)benzoate or laterally fluoro-, chloro-, bromo-, and methoxy-substituted 4-[(S)-2-methyl-1-butoxy]phenyl 4-(alkenyloxy)benzoate mesogenic side groups is presented. The mesomorphic properties of the synthesized polymers have been characterized by optical polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction measurements. The effects of spacer length and lateral substituent on the mesomorphic properties of the obtained polymers are examined. The five polymers which contain three methylene units in the spacers show no mesophase, while the five polymers which contain eleven methylene units in the spacer display smectic mesomorphism. Among the other fifteen polymers which contain respectively four, five, or six methylene units in the spacers, those with small fluoro and chloro substituents reveal respectively an S_A phase, while those with bulky bromo and methoxy substituents show no liquid crystalline behavior. The experimental results demonstrate that introducing a bulky lateral substituent into the mesogenic core of a polymer depresses the tendency to form a mesophase. Furthermore, the technique of thermally stimulated current has been used to study the dipolar relaxation mechanisms in a side-chain liquid crystalline polysiloxane. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2793–2800, 1997