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.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of liquid crystalline [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene derivatives

Two new series of chiral aliphatic and aromatic esters of 7-decyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene-2-carboxylic acid were synthesized and their mesomorphic behaviour studied. While the chiral aliphatic esters exhibited only the SmA phase, the antiferroelectric SmC_A* phase was found for esters with chiral 4-hydroxybenzoates; for one homologue a ferroelectric SmC* phase was also observed. Introduction of lateral substituents in the 3-position of the 4-hydroxybenzoic acids (methoxy, fluoro, chloro, and bromo) led to a reduction of the polymorphism and only the SmA phase remained.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of chiral liquid crystals having thiolactate groups

A homologous series of chiral thiolactate liquid crystals, alkyl 2-[4-(4-decyloxyphenyl)benzoyloxyphenyloxy]thiopropionates, ADBPT-n (n=2-6), was prepared from (R)-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid. Structural effects on the mesomorphic and physical properties were investigated in terms of variation in the length of alkyl chain attached to the thiolactate group. The mesophases and their corresponding transition temperatures were identified by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Compound ADBPT-4 exhibited SmA* and SmC* phases, whereas other compounds in the series exhibited the SmA* phase along with unidentified SmX₁* and SmX₂* phases. The maximum P_s value measured for ADBPT-4 in the SmC* phase was 17.5 nC cm^-2, suggesting the polarization of the material is rather low. The tilt angles were also measured, reaching a maximum of 48 degree.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel liquid crystal series with tribenzoate cores and monofluoro-substitution on the phenyl ring near the chiral chain

Two new chiral series, with benzoate cores and monofluoro-substitution in positions 2 and 3 of the first phenyl ring near the chiral chain, have been synthesized and characterized. The mesomorphic properties have been analysed by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and electro-optical measurements. The first series (I_c) displays a very rich polymorphism including SmA, SmC*_α, SmC*, SmC*_FI, SmC*_A phases, whereas the second (I_b) does not exhibit the SmC*_A phase, and moreover only displays the SmA phase for short alkoxy chains. The effect of the position of the fluoro substituent and the influence of the alkoxy chain length on the mesomorphic behaviour are discussed.     

Mesomorphic property of 2,5-dibenzoyloxy-, 5-benzoylamino-2-benzoyloxy-, and 2,5-dibenzoylamino-tropones with mono-, di-, and tri-alkoxyl groups on the benzoyl groups and their benzenoid derivatives

Mesomorphic properties of three-ring systems such as 2,5-dibenzoyloxytropones, 5-benzoylamino-2-benzoyloxytropones and 2,5-dibenzoylaminotropones with 4-alkoxy, 3,4-dialkoxy, and 3,4,5-trialkoxy groups on the benzoyl groups were investigated together with those of the corresponding benzenoids. Derivatives with two monoalkoxybenzoyl groups showed nematic and smectic A and C phases. Troponoid tetracatenars with two dialkoxybenzoyl groups had hexagonal columnar phases except for troponoids with two ester-connecting groups, whereas the corresponding benzenoids with two dialkoxybenzoyl groups were non-mesomorphic. All troponoid hexacatenars with two trialkoxybenzoyl groups formed hexagonal columnar phases. With the exception of benzenoid hexacatenars with two ester-connecting groups, the benzenoid hexacatenars showed hexagonal and tetragonal columnar phases. These mesomorphic properties were discussed from the standpoint of the difference of the core structure and the connecting group, where the amide-connecting group played a role to induce and enhance mesomorphic properties through hydrogen bonding.     

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.     

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.     

Antiferroelectric phase in liquid crystalline compounds containing an azo group in their molecular core

Novel lactic acid derivatives containing an azo group in their molecular core have been synthesised and their mesomorphic properties established. Compounds with a short aliphatic non-chiral chain exhibited the SmA* phase and ferroelectric (FE) SmC* phase. The monotropic antiferroelectric (AF) phase was found in the homologues with a longer terminal chain. Spontaneous polarisation and tilt angle were measured for the FE and AF phases. Dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 1 Hz–10 MHz was carried out and dielectric properties established within the temperature range of the smectic phases. Two high frequency modes were detected in the AF phase. Small-angle X-ray measurements were conducted, and the temperature dependence of layer spacing values is established and discussed.     

Synthesis, properties and crystal structure of chiral semiperfluorinated liquid crystals with ferro and anticlinic smectic phases

A new chiral and semiperfluorinated series with ferro and anticlinic properties has been synthesized and characterized. The mesomorphic behaviour has been established on the grounds of both microscopic observations and DSC measurements. The non-chiral intermediate ethyl 4-semiperfluorinated alkyloxybenzoates exhibit SmA phases, unusual for compounds with a single phenyl ring. The final derivatives display SmA, SmC* and in several cases SmC*A phases. The longer fluorinated chains favour the SmA and SmC* phases at the expense of the SmC*A phase. Electro-optical measurements were carried out with the classical SSFLC geometry. The spontaneous polarization and tilt angle at saturation are higher than those of the hydrogenous homologues, around 140 nCcm-2 at 40 degrees C. One compound of the series, the 4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-nonafluoroheptyloxy derivative, C36H35O7F9, Mx=750.6 g mol-1, crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1 with four independent molecules in the asymmetric unit (Z=4). The molecules are arranged in a head-to-tail fashion with two molecules oriented in the same direction and the two others in the opposite direction. They give rise to sheets with a smectic C-like arrangement. The final reliability factors were R=0.117 and wR=0.134; the goodness of fit was S=1.366.     

Synthesis,properties and crystal structure of chiral semiperfluorinated liquid crystals with ferro and anticlinic smectic phases

A new chiral and semiperfluorinated series with ferro and anticlinic properties has been synthesized and characterized. The mesomorphic behaviour has been established on the grounds of both microscopic observations and DSC measurements. The non-chiral intermediate ethyl 4-semiperfluorinated alkyloxybenzoates exhibit SmA phases, unusual for compounds with a single phenyl ring. The final derivatives display SmA, SmC* and in several cases SmC*A phases. The longer fluorinated chains favour the SmA and SmC* phases at the expense of the SmC*A phase. Electro-optical measurements were carried out with the classical SSFLC geometry. The spontaneous polarization and tilt angle at saturation are higher than those of the hydrogenous homologues, around 140 nCcm-2 at 40 degrees C. One compound of the series, the 4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-nonafluoroheptyloxy derivative, C36H35O7F9, Mx=750.6 g mol-1, crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1 with four independent molecules in the asymmetric unit (Z=4). The molecules are arranged in a head-to-tail fashion with two molecules oriented in the same direction and the two others in the opposite direction. They give rise to sheets with a smectic C-like arrangement. The final reliability factors were R=0.117 and wR=0.134; the goodness of fit was S=1.366.     

Cholesterol-containing liquid crystal dimers with ether linkages between the spacer and mesogenic units

Three series of chiral liquid crystalline dimers were investigated, having a cholesteryl and a cyanobiphenylyl, butoxybiphenylyl or hexyloxybiphenylyl group connected to a variable alkyl spacer through ether linkages. Their properties were compared with those of the corresponding ester derivatives. The phase behaviour of compounds with ether and ester linkages is comparable, showing N* and SmA phases. The melting points of the compounds with ether linkages are in the same range as those of the ester compounds, but the liquid crystal transition temperatures are lower. The smectic layer spacings and smectic ordering properties are also similar. The cyanobiphenylyl compounds have an interdigitated SmA layer structure, which shows a small odd-even effect with spacer parity. The alkoxybiphenylyl compounds have a monolayer SmA phase for short spacers and an intercalated SmA phase for longer spacers. The selective reflection wavelengths of the chiral nematic phase of the ether compounds are lower than those of the corresponding ester compounds. The transition from N* to interdigitated or monolayer SmA is accompanied by a strong increase in the selective reflection wavelength, indicative of an intermediate TGB phase. This is absent for the transition from N* to intercalated SmA.     

Cholesterol-containing liquid crystal dimers with ether linkages between the spacer and mesogenic units

Three series of chiral liquid crystalline dimers were investigated, having a cholesteryl and a cyanobiphenylyl, butoxybiphenylyl or hexyloxybiphenylyl group connected to a variable alkyl spacer through ether linkages. Their properties were compared with those of the corresponding ester derivatives. The phase behaviour of compounds with ether and ester linkages is comparable, showing N* and SmA phases. The melting points of the compounds with ether linkages are in the same range as those of the ester compounds, but the liquid crystal transition temperatures are lower. The smectic layer spacings and smectic ordering properties are also similar. The cyanobiphenylyl compounds have an interdigitated SmA layer structure, which shows a small odd–even effect with spacer parity. The alkoxybiphenylyl compounds have a monolayer SmA phase for short spacers and an intercalated SmA phase for longer spacers. The selective reflection wavelengths of the chiral nematic phase of the ether compounds are lower than those of the corresponding ester compounds. The transition from N* to interdigitated or monolayer SmA is accompanied by a strong increase in the selective reflection wavelength, indicative of an intermediate TGB phase. This is absent for the transition from N* to intercalated SmA.     

The effect of the alkyl chain length on the mesomorphic properties of new lactic acid derivatives

New series of lactic acid derivatives with alkyl terminal chain have been synthesised and their mesomorphic properties studied. We have varied the length of chiral and non-chiral terminal alkyl chains and found that prolonging both chains has a strong effect on the SmA*–SmC* phase transition. Most of the new materials exhibit only paraelectric SmA* phase; for homologues with a longer non-chiral chain (m ≥ 10), the ferroelectric (SmC*) phase appears below the SmA* on cooling and persists down to a room temperature. The role of the chiral terminal chain in the molecule is quite opposite – only its short length supports the existence of ferroelectric phase. Additionally, a hexatic phase appeared below the SmA*–SmC* phase sequence for several homologues at low temperatures. All materials have been studied using standard experimental techniques (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), texture observations, polarisation and tilt angle measurements, etc.). Liquid crystalline properties of new materials have been compared with the previously prepared and studied lactic acid derivatives.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a new chiral series with a heterocycle in the molecular core

We report a number of different homologous series with a heterocycle incorporated in the molecular core near the chiral chain. Two of these series differ in the type of chiral chain, -CH*(CH 3 )C 6 H 13 or -CH*(CH 3 )-CO 2 -C 4 H 9 . Their properties are compared and found to show completely different polymorphism. The first series exhibits only SmC* and SmA phases whereas the second possesses TGB, N* and BP phases. The mesomorphic properties were studied by optical microscopy, DSC and electro-optical measurements. The effect of substitution of the phenyl ring near the chiral chain by a heterocycle is discussed.     

The influence of terminal chlorine on the mesomorphic properties of new thiobenzoates containing two and three benzene rings

New liquid crystalline chloro-substituted thioesters containing two and three benzene rings have been synthesized. 4-Chlorophenyl 4-n-alkoxythiobenzoates and 4-chlorophenyl 4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy-4'-thiobenzoates are referred to as nO.SCl and nO.OSCl, respectively, where n varies from 4 to 16 for nO.SCl, from 4 to 10 for nO.OSCl and denotes the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. Their mesomorphic properties were investigated by means of polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, transmittance light intensity and X-ray diffraction measurements. The nO.SCl homologous series possesses smectic A (SmA) and nematic (N) phases for n = 4, 5, 6 while higher homologues have only an enantiotropic SmA phase. Those from the nO.OSCl homologous series have enantiotropic N and SmA phases and higher transition temperatures. The range of the N phase decreases, and of the SmA increases, with the elongation of the alkoxy chain in the nO.OSCl homologous series. The effect on mesomorphic behaviour of terminal alkoxy chain lengthening and replacement by chlorine on the other side of the molecule is discussed.     

Effects of benzoyl group substituents on the mesomorphic properties of 5-alkoxy-2-benzoylaminotropones

Three types of 5-alkoxy-2-benzoylaminotropones, containing an electron-donating group and seven types of derivatives with electron-withdrawing groups on the benzoyl group, were prepared in order to study the thermal ranges of the mesophases exhibited. The troponoid amides had higher transition temperatures than the corresponding troponoid esters and benzenoid amides. From the ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements and X-ray crystallographic analysis of 5-butoxy-2-(4-methoxybenzoylamino)tropone, it was observed that the benzoyl carbonyl group faced to the H-3 of the tropone ring to form an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the tropone carbonyl and the amide NH groups. The intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the troponoid amides made the molecules flat, inducing strong π–π intermolecular interactions between head-to-tail dimers and so reduced the possibility of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the NH group and the carbonyl group of neighbouring molecules so decreasing melting points. Electron-donating groups enhanced the appearance of nematic phases while electron-withdrawing groups promoted smectic A phases.     

Novel ferroelectric liquid crystals based on fused thieno[3,2-b]furan and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene cores

Several series of new benzofused thieno[3,2-b]furan- and thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-based derivatives have been synthesized and their mesomorphic properties investigated. All the studied compounds exhibit a SmC* phase with very wide temperature interval. Additionally, some types of the compounds show the cholesteric, SmA or blue phase. In the ferroelectric SmC* phase we evaluated physical properties of relevance for possible applications.     

Non-symmetric calamitic liquid crystal dimers containing troponoid and benzenoid units

Five types of non-symmetric calamitic dimers were synthesized to investigate the effect of the core structure and length of the spacer on mesomorphic properties. Two non-symmetric dimers containing a troponoid and benzenoid unit showed smectic A and C phases whereas the corresponding benzenoid dimers showed no mesophase. Non-symmetric dimers with a three-ring system showed smectic A and C phases with higher transition temperatures than the two-ring system. We propose packing models for these non-symmetric dimers by considering the direction of the dipole moments of the ring structures and microsegregation between the polar units and the non-polar chains.     

Effects of benzoyl group substituents on the mesomorphic properties of 5-alkoxy-2-benzoylaminotropones

Three types of 5-alkoxy-2-benzoylaminotropones, containing an electron-donating group and seven types of derivatives with electron-withdrawing groups on the benzoyl group, were prepared in order to study the thermal ranges of the mesophases exhibited. The troponoid amides had higher transition temperatures than the corresponding troponoid esters and benzenoid amides. From the ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements and X-ray crystallographic analysis of 5-butoxy-2-(4-methoxybenzoylamino)tropone, it was observed that the benzoyl carbonyl group faced to the H-3 of the tropone ring to form an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the tropone carbonyl and the amide NH groups. The intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the troponoid amides made the molecules flat, inducing strong π-π intermolecular interactions between head-to-tail dimers and so reduced the possibility of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the NH group and the carbonyl group of neighbouring molecules so decreasing melting points. Electron-donating groups enhanced the appearance of nematic phases while electron-withdrawing groups promoted smectic A phases.     

Investigation of liquid crystalline property of a new calamitic liquid crystalline system methyl 4-(4ʹ-(4ʹʹ-(decyloxy)benzyloxy) benzylideneamino)benzoate

A new polar calamitic liquid crystal, methyl 4-(4?-(4?-(decyloxy)benzyloxy) benzylideneamino)benzoate (M3BA) containing ether and Schiff base groups as linker with terminal polar ester group, has been synthesised and mesomorphic properties are studied by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy, density functional theory, temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction and temperature-dependent micro- Raman study. The smectic A (SmA) mesophase with focal conic texture has been observed with wide mesomorphic range. Layer thickness in SmA phase is greater than the optimised length of the molecule, indicating partially bilayer SmA phase. Analysis of Raman marker bands of C–H in-plane bending of phenyl rings, C=C stretching of rings, C=N stretching and C=O stretching shows structural changes at molecular level at Cr → SmA phase transition and provides proper intermolecular interactions responsible for dimeric unit in partially bilayer SmA phase.