Induced crystal G phase through intermolecular hydrogen bonding II. Influence of alkyl chain length of n-alkyl p-hydroxybenzoates on thermal and phase behaviour

A new series of intermolecular hydrogen-bonded complexes have been synthesized using p-n-alkoxybenzoic acid (alkyl chain length varies from propyl- to decyl- and dodecyl-) and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate moieties. The thermal and phase behaviour of these complexes were studied by thermal microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Further, the stabilization of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in solution was studied by IR spectroscopy. A detailed IR spectral investigation in the solid and dissolved states suggests that the acid and phenol groups act as proton donor and proton acceptor, respectively. The thermal studies also reveal the inducement of a crystal G phase in the complexes.     

Induced smectic G phase through intermolecular hydrogen bonding

A new series of mesomorphic complexes formed through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between p-n-alkoxybenzoic acids (where alkoxy denotes chains from propoxy- to decyloxy- and dodecyloxy-) and non-mesogenic p-hydroxybutyl benzoate, have been synthesized and characterized by thermal microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy (IR) and 1H NMR studies. A detailed IR spectral investigation in the solid state and in solution suggests that the acid and phenol groups are complementary to each other, each acting as both proton donor and proton acceptor. The results of comparative thermal analyses of both free p-n-alkoxybenzoic acids and H-bonded complexes exhibited an induced crystal smectic G phase in the complexes throughout the series, its thermal range increasing with alkoxy carbon number.     

两个新的氢键诱导液晶化合物的合成

通过４－丁氧基苯甲酸（４ＢＡ０与两个手性取代的苯乙烯基吡啶（ＶＳＺ及ＬＳＺ）间的氢键作用合成了２个新的液晶化合物，用ＤＳＣ、偏光显微镜研究了其液晶行为，并由红外光谱证实了分子间氢键的存在，形成的复合物４ＢＡ－ＶＳＺ具有手性近晶Ｃ相。     

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.     

Hydrogen-bonded complexes between mesogenic heterocyclic Schiff's bases and mesogenic 4- n -nonyloxybenzoic acid: mesomorphic behaviour, FTIR study and PM3 semi-empirical calculations

A new series of intermolecular hydrogen-bonded complexes has been obtained using mesogenic 4- n -nonyloxybenzoic acid and mesogenic 5-(4-pyridyl)-2-(4- n -alkoxy) benzylideneamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole moieties. The thermal and phase behaviour of these complexes were studied by thermal microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding was studied by FTIR spectroscopy, from crystalline to the isotropic state. A study by PM3 semi-empirical calculations is also described.     

Influence of hydrogen bonding on phase abundance in ferroelectric liquid crystals

The synthesis and characterization of five hydrogen-bonded ferroelectric liquid crystal complexes (HBFLCs) prepared from mesogenic p-n-alkoxy benzoic acids and non-mesogenic propionic/butyric acids with different chiral centres are reported. Complementary intermolecular hydrogen bonding is confirmed through IR study. HBFLCs are found to exhibit chiral nematic (N*), smectic C* (SmC*) and smectic G* (monotropic) phases in their cooling profiles during polarizing thermal microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Phase coexistence regions are observed above the IN* transition. The chiral nematic to smectic C* transition is found to be of first order. The temperature variation of spontaneous polarization exhibited by these HBFLC complexes in their SmC* phase is presented. The effect of non-covalent interaction imparted by the soft hydrogen bonding in these LC complexes on enhanced or induced thermal stability of tilted LC phases is discussed.     

Hydrogen-bonded complexes between mesogenic heterocyclic Schiff's bases and mesogenic 4- n -nonyloxybenzoic acid: mesomorphic behaviour,FTIR study and PM3 semi-empirical calculations

A new series of intermolecular hydrogen-bonded complexes has been obtained using mesogenic 4-n-nonyloxybenzoic acid and mesogenic 5-(4-pyridyl)-2-(4-n-alkoxy) benzylideneamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole moieties. The thermal and phase behaviour of these complexes were studied by thermal microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding was studied by FTIR spectroscopy, from crystalline to the isotropic state. A study by PM3 semi-empirical calculations is also described.     

Influence of hydrogen bonding on phase abundance in ferroelectric liquid crystals

The synthesis and characterization of five hydrogen-bonded ferroelectric liquid crystal complexes (HBFLCs) prepared from mesogenic p-n-alkoxy benzoic acids and non-mesogenic propionic/butyric acids with different chiral centres are reported. Complementary intermolecular hydrogen bonding is confirmed through IR study. HBFLCs are found to exhibit chiral nematic (N*), smectic C* (SmC*) and smectic G* (monotropic) phases in their cooling profiles during polarizing thermal microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Phase coexistence regions are observed above the IN* transition. The chiral nematic to smectic C* transition is found to be of first order. The temperature variation of spontaneous polarization exhibited by these HBFLC complexes in their SmC* phase is presented. The effect of non-covalent interaction imparted by the soft hydrogen bonding in these LC complexes on enhanced or induced thermal stability of tilted LC phases is 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.     

Communication: Frequency shifts of an intramolecular hydrogen bond as a measure of intermolecular hydrogen bond strengths

Infrared-ultraviolet double resonance spectroscopy has been applied to study the infrared spectra of the supersonically cooled gas phase complexes of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, formamide, and water with 9-hydroxy-9-fluorenecarboxylic acid (9HFCA), an analog of glycolic acid. In these complexes each binding partner to 9HFCA can function as both proton donor and acceptor. Relative to its frequency in free 9HFCA, the 9-hydroxy (9OH) stretch is blue shifted in complexes with formic, acetic, and propionic acids, but is red shifted in the complexes with formamide and water. Density functional calculations on complexes of 9HFCA to a variety of H bonding partners with differing proton donor and acceptor abilities reveal that the quantitative frequency shift of the 9OH can be attributed to the balance struck between two competing intermolecular H bonds. More extensive calculations on complexes of glycolic acid show excellent consistency with the experimental frequency shifts.     

Infrared study of phase transitions in thermotropic liquid crystal polyesters

Three samples of semiflexible thermotropic liquid-crystalline polyesters based on mesogenic aromatic triads and a decamethylene spacer have been investigated by IR spectroscopy at various temperatures between room temperature and 290°C. The crystal-to-liquid crystal (either nematic or smectic) phase transition was accompanied by fairly strong spectral variations, whereas slight, but significant, changes in the IR profiles were detected at the liquid crystal-to-isotropic transition. By comparing the results obtained with the spectral behavior recorded for corresponding structural analogs of low molar mass, it was possible to attribute the spectral variations observed in the polymer samples to a decrease in intermolecular interactions rather than to conformational changes. The thermal transitions indicated by IR spectra were in good agreement with the analogous data obtained by calorimetric or optical microscopy techniques.     

Conformational studies of intermolecular hydorgen bonding through induced crystal G phase in nBA:7HB

This paper exploits the physical investigation on liquid crystal complexes obtained by self-organisation of p-n-alkyl benzoic acid (nBA) mesogens with non-mesogenic materials heptyl p-hydroxy benzoate (7HB). Intermolecular interactions of the molecules result the hydrogen bond between the proton donor (COOH) of nBA and proton acceptor (OH) of 7HB. The formation of hydrogen bond is attributed to the quenching of the nematic phase and inducement of crystal G phase in liquid crystal complex. A comparative study of phase abundance is presented with respect to the pure nBAs and other hydrogen bonded liquid crystal complexes of nBAs. Thermal and phase behaviour of the complexes are determined by polarising optical microscope (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and image moments approach. Intermolecular interactions which result the hydrogen bond in complexes are investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Molecular structure of the liquid crystal complexes in the solid phase was elucidated using powder X-ray diffraction and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹HNMR).     

Supramolecular liquid crystals formed by hydrogen bonding between a benzocrown-bearing stilbazole and carboxylic acids

The mesomorphism of hydrogen bonded complexes formed between 4'-carboxybenzo-15-crown-5 stilbazolyl ester (CBCSE) as proton acceptor and carboxylic acids as proton donors is discussed. CBCSE is a monotropic mesogen, forming a nematic phase upon quench cooling. A total of 32 hydrogen bonded complexes has been studied. Hydrogen bonding with carboxylic acids stabilizes the nematic phase, and/or induces a smectic A (SmA) phase. CBCSE forms 1:1 complexes (molar ratio) with alkanoic acids (fatty acids) and 2:1 complexes with alkanedioic acids. None of these proton donors is a mesogen itself, but the hydrogen bonded complexes are. The influence of the chain or spacer length on the transition temperatures is discussed. Besides the homologous series of the alkanoic and alkanedioic acids, the following carboxylic acids were used in this study: diglycolic acid, pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, 4-dodecyloxybenzoic acid, 3,4-bis(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid, 2,3,4-tris(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid and 3,4,5-tris(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid.     

Proton-conductive acid–base complex consisting of κ-carrageenan and 2-mercaptoimidazole

Novel acid–base complexes were prepared from κ-carrageenan (Cg) and 2-mercaptoimidazole (MIm). FTIR absorption measurements revealed that Cg and MIm interact through proton exchange reactions between the sulfonic acid groups of Cg and the imino nitrogen atoms of MIm. DSC thermograms suggested that the extent of the Cg–MIm intermolecular interactions could be modulated by the doping amount of MIm. From the TG curves, the thermal stability of the complexes was found to improve with an increase in the doping amount. Furthermore, the degree of water absorbability of the complexes was reduced to half of that of Cg. The Cg–MIm complex at the smallest doping amount showed the highest level of proton conductivity, which exceeds the conductivity of Cg. The enhanced conductivity is thought to be derived from the softening effect of MIm based on the increased mobility of the polymer chains of Cg.     

Crystal G phase induced through intermolecular hydrogen bonding IV: a study of crystallization kinetics

A systematic crystallization kinetic study using thermal microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry has been carried out on two novel liquid crystalline compounds, DBA:MHB and DBA:ACP. These involve intermolecular hydrogen bonding between 4-n-decyloxybenzoic acid (DBA) and methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (MHB); and between DBA and 2-amino-5-chloropyridine (ACP). The kinetics experiments were performed from the crystal G phase, which is a common induced kinetophase in both the compounds. Further, the proton donor and acceptor capabilities of the -COOH group of DBA towards the -OH group of MHB and -N atom of ACP were studied in the light of mesomorphism and rate of crystallization. The dimensionality in the crystal growth and the sporadic nucleation were estimated from the Avrami exponent, n. A similar type of crystallization mechanism is predicted to operate for all the crystallization temperatures. The characteristic crystallization time (t?) at each crystallization temperature is deduced from the individual plots of log t vs. ΔH (change in enthalpy).     

Supramolecular liquid crystals formed by hydrogen bonding between a benzocrown-bearing stilbazole and carboxylic acids

The mesomorphism of hydrogen bonded complexes formed between 4'-carboxybenzo-15-crown-5 stilbazolyl ester (CBCSE) as proton acceptor and carboxylic acids as proton donors is discussed. CBCSE is a monotropic mesogen, forming a nematic phase upon quench cooling. A total of 32 hydrogen bonded complexes has been studied. Hydrogen bonding with carboxylic acids stabilizes the nematic phase, and/or induces a smectic A (SmA) phase. CBCSE forms 1:1 complexes (molar ratio) with alkanoic acids (fatty acids) and 2:1 complexes with alkanedioic acids. None of these proton donors is a mesogen itself, but the hydrogen bonded complexes are. The influence of the chain or spacer length on the transition temperatures is discussed. Besides the homologous series of the alkanoic and alkanedioic acids, the following carboxylic acids were used in this study: diglycolic acid, pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, 4-dodecyloxybenzoic acid, 3,4-bis(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid, 2,3,4-tris(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid and 3,4,5-tris(dodecyloxy)benzoic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid.     

Complexation of bovine serum albumin and sugar beet pectin: structural transitions and phase diagram

The complexation between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and sugar beet pectin (SBP) was studied in situ by coupling glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) induced acidification with dynamic light scattering and turbidity measurements. Individual measurements at specific pHs and mixing ratios were also carried out using zeta potentiometry, gel permeation chromatography-multiangle laser light scattering (GPC-MALLS), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). These investigations together enabled the establishment of a phase diagram of BSA/SBP and the identification of the molecular events during protein/polysaccharide complexation in relation to the phase diagram, which showed five regions: (I) a stable region of mixed individual soluble polymers, (II) a stable region of intramolecular soluble complexes, (III) a quasi-stable region of intermolecular soluble complexes, (IV) an unstable region of intermolecular insoluble complexes, and (V) a second stable region of mixed individual soluble polymers, on lowering pH. We found for the first time that the complexation could take place well above the critical pH(c), the value that most previous studies had regarded as the onset occurrence of complexation. A model of structural transitions between the regions was proposed. The borderline between region II and region III represents the BSA/SBP stoichiometry for intramolecular soluble complex at a specific pH, while that between region III and region IV identifies the composition of the intermolecular insoluble complex. Also studied was the effect of NaCl and CaCl(2) on the phase diagram and structural transitions.     

Synthesis and optical behaviour of hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals based on a chiral pyridine derivative

Three series of cholesteryl-containing supramolecular hydrogen-bonded (H-bonded) liquid crystal (LC) complexes with different number of fluoro-substituent were synthesised and characterised. Cholesteryl isonicotinate as proton acceptor and 4-n-alkoxybenzoic acids with or without fluoro-substituent as proton donor had been mixed in tetrahydrofuran to obtain H-bonded LC complexes. The effect of lateral substitution and the length of terminal chain in the H-bonded precursors on the formation of the supramolecular complexes had been examined. It was found that the introduction of fluoro substituent on the induced mesogens could widen the molecular width and thus reduce the molecular aspect ratio of the complexes, therefore it could lead to compress the formation of the LCs. However, the fluoro substituent played a positive role in enhancing the intermolecular interactions and stabilising the H-bond structure of the complexes. The influence of terminal length on the mesogenic behaviours is also discussed. On increasing the spacer length, the clear point and the thermal range of induced mesophase-like cholesteric phase decreased, and an induced chiral smectic phase began to appear in some complexes with long terminal tails.     

Proton Transfer Influence on Geometry and Electron Density in Benzoic Acid–Pyridine Complexes

The influence of the proton transfer on the geometry of donor and acceptor molecule in benzoic acid–pyridine complexes is investigated by theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory. Systematic shifts of the H‐atom in the H‐bond are reflected in the geometry of the COOH group and the lengths of aromatic ring bond lengths of the proton acceptor. Changes in electron densities have been studied by atoms in molecules analysis. A systematic natural bond orbital analysis has been performed to study the proton transfer mechanism. Two donor orbitals are engaged in the proton transfer process which is accompanied by a change in orbital delocalization of H‐atom that can switch between two donor orbitals so the path of proton transfer in intermolecular H‐bond is not determined by the orbital shape. Theoretical results have been confirmed by experimental results published previously.     

Excited-state intermolecular proton transfer reactions of 7-azaindole(MeOH)(n) (n = 1-3) clusters in the gas phase: on-the-fly dynamics simulation

Ultrafast excited-state intermolecular proton transfer (PT) reactions in 7-azaindole(methanol)(n) (n = 1-3) [7AI(MeOH)(n=1-3)] complexes were performed using dynamics simulations. These complexes were first optimized at the RI-ADC(2)/SVP-SV(P) level in the gas phase. The ground-state structures with the lowest energy were also investigated and presented. On-the-fly dynamics simulations for the first-excited state were employed to investigate reaction mechanisms and time evolution of PT processes. The PT characteristics of the reactions were confirmed by the nonexistence of crossings between S(ππ*) and S(πσ*) states. Excited-state dynamics results for all complexes exhibit excited-state multiple-proton transfer (ESmultiPT) reactions via methanol molecules along an intermolecular hydrogen-bonded network. In particular, the two methanol molecules of a 7AI(MeOH)(2) cluster assist the excited-state triple-proton transfer (ESTPT) reaction effectively with highest probability of PT.