Effects of the cinnamoyl group on liquid crystal aligning capabilities on PCEMA surfaces

Four kinds of poly(4-methacryloyloxychalcone) (PCEMA) photo-alignment materials were synthesized. The effect of the cinnamoyl group on liquid crystal (LC) aligning capabilities and electro-optical characteristics of photo-aligned twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal displays (LCDs) was investigated by photo-dimerization. Uniform NLC alignment by linearly polarized UV exposure at normal incidence on the PCEMA surfaces having a high density of cinnamoyl groups was observed. Also, excellent voltage-transmittance (V-T) curves for the photo-aligned TN-LCDs on the PCEMA surfaces was achieved. We find that the V-T and response time characteristics can be improved by increasing the density of cinnamoyl groups.     

Crystal structure of 4-n-nonylbenzoic acid

The title compound, 4-n-nonylbenzoic acid, CH₃(CH₂)₈C₆H₄COOH (NBA), has been characterized thus: triclinic, P1, a = 13.514(4)Å, b = 23.4672(5)Å, c = 7.658(3)Å, alpha = 90.914(3)°, beta = 100.403(3)°, gamma = 77.781(2)°, V = 2334(2)ų, Z = 2, and F.W = 745.06, D_m = 1.161 g cm^-3, D_c = 1.061 g cm^-3, F₀₀₀ = 816.00, lambda = 0.71069Å, mu = 0.6 cm^-1, goodness-of-fit is 1.029, final R1 = 0.063 and wR2 = 0.16.     

The B2–B7 phase transition in symmetrical bent‐shaped mesogens with methoxy substitution

New mesogens composed of achiral bent molecules with thermally stable ester linkages, and laterally substituted by a methoxy group symmetrically near the central benzene ring, were synthesized. Texture, calorimetric, electro‐optical, X‐ray and dielectric measurements were performed. In most of studied compounds the antiferroelectric B₂ phase was found on cooling from the isotropic phase, followed by the B₇ phase at lower temperatures. Undulation of layers in the B₇ phase was confirmed by precise synchrotron studies.     

Side chain liquid crystal polyurethanes with azobenzene mesogenic moieties: Influence of spacer length on hydrogen bonding at different temperatures

A series of side chain liquid crystal polyurethanes (CnCNPs), in which the spacer length was varied from 2 to 12 methylene units, were synthesized by the addition polymerization of α-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-ω-(4-cyanoazobenzene-4′-oxy)alkanes (CnCN-diols) with hexamethylene diisocyanate. The liquid crystalline properties of CnCNPs were characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Polyurethanes with spacer length 4 or higher exhibited mesomophic properties. C4CNP and C5CNP exhibited an enantiotropic nematic mesophase, while C6-C12CNPs exhibited enantiotropic bilayer smectic mesophases. CnCNPs have a high tendency to crystallize; crystallization is kinetically controlled. Polyurethane's backbone crystallization is closely related to hydrogen bonding. To establish the role of hydrogen bonding in mesophase formation as well as crystallization, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of CnCNPs were carried out at different temperatures focusing on H-bonds between the N H and CO groups of the urethane backbone. With increasing temperature, CO and N H stretching bands were evenly shifted to higher wavenumbers, with two exceptions (C4CNP and C5CNP) discussed in detail in the text. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2135–2146, 1998     

Competition between micro-segregation and anti-parallel alignment of an amphiphilic rod-like liquid crystal

Recently, we reported that a rod-like molecule, 4-[4-(7-hydroxyheptyloxy)phenyl]-1-(4-hexylphenyl)-2,3-difluorobenzene, exhibited a nematic phase with a layered structure and smectic C phases consisting of three states. We prepared a homologous series of the rod-like molecules in which a 2,3-difluoro-1,4-diphenylbenzene unit and a hydroxyl unit are connected via a flexible methylene spacer. We investigated their physical properties using polarised optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Although they showed nematic, smectic A and smectic C phases, the phase structures were found to depend on the flexible spacer length. Those compounds possessing a shorter spacer length than a heptyl unit exhibited bilayered smectic A and smectic C phases, whereas those possessing a longer spacer length than a heptyl unit showed conventional monolayered smectic A and smectic C phases. A nematic phase with a smectic-like layer ordering was observed for the compound possessing an octyl unit. The structure–property relations of the amphiphilic compounds are discussed.     

Synthesis and properties of new ionic liquid crystals based on para-nitroazobenzene with substitution vinylimidazolium ion group

A new series of ionic liquid crystals (ILCs), 1-(4-(4-nitrophenylazo)phenyloxy) vinyl-3-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium bromide salts (C _n , n?=?6, 10) were synthesised. Their chemical structures were determined by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The liquid crystalline properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. These measurements showed that C _n (n?=?6, 10) exhibit smectic liquid crystalline phases with focal-conic fan-shaped textures. The introduction of vinylimidazolium group onto the azobenzene enhances the thermal stability of the smectic state, which play an important role in forming the smectic layer structure.     

Synthesis and liquid crystal properties of a novel family of oligothiophene derivatives

In order to develop novel oligothiophene-based liquid crystals capable of hydrogen bonding, new terthiophene derivatives containing an alkylamide group, N,N′-dialkyl-5,5″-dichloro-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene-4,4″-dicarboxamide (DNC_nDCl3T, n=8, 18), N,N′-dialkyl-5,5″-dibromo-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene-4,4″-dicarboxamide (DNC_nDBr3T, n=5, 8, 16, 18), or N,N′-dialkyl-5,5″-diiodo-2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene-4,4″-dica-rboxamide (DNC_nDI3T, n=8, 18), were designed and synthesized, and their thermal behaviour was examined. It was found that DNC₁₈DCl3T, DNC₁₈DI3T and DNC_nDBr3T (n=8, 16, 18) form a smectic A phase and that the alkyl chain length greatly affects liquid crystal phase formation. The absence of liquid crystallinity in the corresponding ester derivatives suggests that intermolecular hydrogen bonding also plays a role in the formation of a liquid crystal phases in the DNC_nDBr3T system.     

Liquid Crystalline Behaviours of the Complexes Based on 1,3,4‐Oxadiazole Derivative and Benzoic Acid

A non‐liquid crystal compound (4‐POXD‐6) containing the 1,3,4‐oxadiazole group and pyridyl (py) group was synthesized. And a series of supramolecular mesogenic complexes were obtained by mixing 4‐POXD‐6 and 4‐alkoxybenzoic acids (Cn, n=6, 8, 12). The liquid crystalline properties of 4‐POXD‐6/Cn (n=6, 8, 12) were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. It was found that 4‐POXD‐6/Cn (6, 8) display monotropic nematic and smectic A phases, while 4‐POXD‐6/C12 exhibits a SmX phase in the heating process and a SmA phase in the cooling run. Variable‐temperature FTIR spectroscopic studies revealed hydrogen bonds existed in both crystalline and liquid crystalline phases.     

Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers containing five-membered heterocyclic groups IX. Synthesis and optical properties of liquid crystalline semi-rigid polyesters composed of a quinquephenyl analogue containing 1,3,4-thiadiazole and aliphatic chains

Novel semi-rigid polyesters containing a quinquephenyl analogue containing 1,3,4-thiadiazole and a central 1,3-phenylene unit in the main chain were synthesized by high temperature solution polycondensation of a dimethyl ester derivative of 1,3-bis(5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzene with an aliphatic (octa-, deca- and dodecamethylene) diol. The proposed structures were confirmed using FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, and elemental analyses; their liquid crystalline and photoluminescent (PL) properties were examined by means of differential scanning calorimetry, optical texture observations using polarizing microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and UV-vis and PL spectra measurements. These measurements showed that the polymers not only show a monotropic solid smectic or disordered crystal phase, but also PL properties with blue emission in HFIP solutions and in the solid phase, Stokes shifts of 116.5–119?nm being observed.     

Hydroxytropylium chloride: the first crystal structure of an unfunctionalized hydroxytropylium ion

The crystal structure of hydroxytropylium chloride, C₇H₆OH⁺·Cl⁻, the hydrochloride salt of tropone, is described, which represents the first crystallographic characterization of an unfunctionalized hydroxytropylium ion. Crystals were obtained serendipitously from a sample of chlorotropylium chloride after partial hydrolysis. This highlights the role of hydroxytropylium ions as an intermediate in the hydrolytic decomposition of halotropylium halides to tropone. The solid‐state structure consists of layers, in which the hydroxytropylium and chloride ions interact via both strong hydrogen bonds formed by the hydroxy protons and weaker hydrogen bonds formed by the tropylium protons to produce a two‐dimensional network.     

Influence of the washing process on the aligning capability of a nematic liquid crystal on polymer surfaces

The influence of washing processes on the liquid crystal (LC) aligning capability on rubbed polyimide (PI) surfaces containing the CONH moiety were investigated. The induced optical retardation from a non-washing process on a rubbed PI surface is larger than when the washing processes are included. The pretilt angles in 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) were decreased by the washing process. The polar anchoring energy of 5CB was decreased by the washing processes on a weakly rubbed PI surface. The surface order parameter S_S of 5CB strongly depends on the rubbing strength and washing materials. Consequently, the LC aligning capability may be strongly attributed to the polymer characteristics and the washing processes.     

Effect of counter-ion on the thermotropic liquid crystal behaviour of bis(alkyl)-tris(imidazolium salt) compounds

Recently, new thermotropic ionic liquid crystals (LCs) with a hexyl-linked tris(imidazolium bromide) core and two terminal alkyl chains were synthesised and characterised. To explore the effect of different counter-ions on the LC behaviour of this system, derivatives with BF₄^? and Tf₂N^? counter-ions were prepared and analysed. Five of the BF₄^? derivatives were found to exhibit thermotropic LC behaviour. The 12-, 14- and 16-carbon tail BF₄^? compounds form SmA phases. The 18- and 20-carbon tail homologues form what appears to be a smectic phase but are weakly mesogenic and harder to characterise. Only two of the Tf₂N^? derivatives exhibited mesogenic behaviour. The 18-carbon tail Tf₂N^? compound forms an as-yet unidentified, highly periodic smectic phase with positional order while the 20-carbon tail homologue forms a periodic SmA phase. The Tf₂N^? mesogens have much lower clearing points even though their LC phases have more order than the Br^? and BF₄^? mesogens. X-ray diffraction showed that these mesogens have different amounts of tail interdigitation between the smectic layers depending on the counter-ion present. Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations indicated that counter-ion size plays an important role in defining the density of the ionic region, which in turn affects the amount of interdigitation in the smectic phases.     

Liquid-Crystalline copolymers and polymer blends containing electron donor and acceptor groups: Effects of mesogenic structures on the smectic phase and the miscibility

Side-chain liquid-crystalline copolymers and polymer blends containing an electron-donating (carbazolylmethylene)aniline group and electron-accepting nitrophenyl groups with various central linking groups between aromatic groups in the mesogenic units, i.e., N?CH, CH?CH, N?N, and COO, were prepared to examine effects of the mesogenic structure on thermal behaviours. The most remarkable effects of the central linking group on the thermal properties and the miscibility were observed for the polymer blends. The 1:1 miscible polymer blends were prepared from the electron-donating polymer containing (carbazolylmethylene)aniline group (PM6C_z) and the electron-accepting polymers with similar central linking groups, i.e., N?CH, CH?CH, and N?N. For example, the 1: 1 polymer blend of PM6C_z and the electron-accepting polymer containing the nitrostilbene group induced a smectic phase from 73 to 207°C. This isotropic temperature was 46°C higher than the calculated value (161°C) based on the composition without the electron donor-acceptor interaction. On the other hand, the 1: 1 polymer blend of PM6C_z and the electron-accepting polymer containing the nitrophenylbenzoate group showed phase separation. Thus, the remarkable thermal stability and the miscibility of the polymer blends containing the electron donor and acceptor groups might be caused by planar structures between the mesogenic side groups which have similar central linking groups through the electron donor-acceptor interaction. A similar tendency was seen for copolymers and binary mixtures of both low-molecular-weight compounds containing the same mesogenic groups. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Weak hydrogen bonding and fluorous interactions in the chloride and bromide salts of 4‐[(2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium

Neutralization of 4‐[(2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridine with hydrohalo acids HX (X = Cl and Br) yielded the pyridinium salts 4‐[(2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium chloride, C₉H₁₀F₄NO⁺·Cl⁻, (1), and 4‐[(2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium bromide, C₉H₁₀F₄NO⁺·Br⁻, (2), both carrying a fluorous side chain at the para position of the pyridinium ring. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques revealed that (1) and (2) are isomorphous. The halide anions accept four hydrogen bonds from N—H, ortho‐C—H and CF₂—H groups. Two cations and two anions form a centrosymmetric dimeric building block, utilizing complimentary N—H…X …H—Csp ³ connections. These dimers are further crosslinked, utilizing another complimentary Csp ²—H…X …H—Csp ² connection. The pyridinium rings are π‐stacked, forming columns running parallel to the a axis that make angles of ca 44–45° with the normal to the pyridinium plane. There are also supramolecular C—H…F—C interactions, namely bifurcated C—H…F and bifurcated C—F…H interactions; additionally, one type II C—F…F—C halogen bond has been observed.     

Hydrogen bonding contribution to the water pair interaction potential: Effects on the model liquid structure

Empirical pair potentials of water that take into account the contribution of the OH nonelectrostatic interaction in the hydrogen bond are considered. The effects of this contribution on the radial distribution functions derived by computer simulation are analyzed. Model potentials have been obtained for which the height and position of the first and second peaks of the oxygen-oxygen radial distribution function are comparable with experimental data.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by A. V. Borovkov, M. L. Antipova, V. E. Petrenko, and Yu. M. KesslerTranslated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 678–682, July–August, 2004.Deceased.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Preorganised effects of a tetramesogenic supermolecule on supramolecular assembly in the liquid crystalline phases

After preparing a homologous series of tetrameric mesogenic compounds in which two U-shaped molecules were connected via a rigid benzene derivative or a flexible alkyl chain, we investigated their phase transition behaviour using optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis. The compounds possessing an alkyl spacer as the central group exhibited nematic and smectic A phases just as the corresponding U-shaped molecule did. The compound possessing a 1,2-benzene unit as the connecting group showed nematic and smectic A phases, although the compound possessing a 1,3-benzene unit exhibited only an anticlinic smectic C phase. Structure–property relations of the liquid crystalline tetramers are interpreted in terms of preorganised effects of the four mesogenic units.     

Experimental investigation on the effect of mesogenic ratio in hydrogen-bonded liquid crystal complexes

Hydrogen-bonded liquid crystal complex (HBLC) is synthesized from mesogenic 4-hexyloxy benzoic acid (6OBA) and aliphatic non-mesogenic citric acid (CA). The presence of intermolecular hydrogen bond in the HBLC complex is confirmed by FTIR spectrum. Phase transition temperature and enthalpy values are identified using different techniques. Induced highly ordered smectic G phase has been noticed in the present HBLC complex. Thermal span width and thermal stability factor of the individual mesogenic phase are discussed. The complexes are synthesized in different mole ratios, and their corresponding influence on the phase transitions is also discussed.     

A new CoII complex of diniconazole: synthesis,crystal structure and antifungal activity

A new Co^II complex of diniconazole, namely diaqua[(E)‐(RS)‐1‐(2,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐4,4‐dimethyl‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl‐κN⁴)pent‐1‐en‐3‐ol]cobalt(II) dinitrate dihydrate, [Co(C₁₅H₁₇Cl₂N₃O)₃(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂·2H₂O, was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Crystal structural analysis shows that the centrosymmetric Co^II cation is coordinated by four diniconazole ligands and two water molecules, forming a six‐coordinated octahedral structure. There are also two free nitrate counter‐anions and two additional solvent water molecules in the structure. Intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds link the complex cations into a one‐dimensional chain. In addition, the antifungal activity of the complex against Botryosphaeria ribis, Gibberella nicotiancola, Botryosphaeria berengriana and Alternariasolani was studied. The results indicate that the complex shows a higher antifungal activity for Botryosphaeria ribis and Botryosphaeria berengriana than diniconazole, but a lower antifungal activity for Gibberella nicotiancola and Alternariasolani.     

Polar anchoring strengths of nematic liquid crystal on high-density polymer brush surfaces

ABSTRACT

Herein, the polar anchoring energy coefficient (A_θ) of nematic liquid crystal (NLC) was examined for high-density polymer brushes via capacitance measurements. The A_θ is 10^?4 J m^?2 for the brushes of poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ethyl methacrylate) and poly(styrene). The value decreases to 10^?5 J m^?2 for poly(n-butyl methacrylate) and poly(hexyl methacrylate) with lower glass transition temperatures. However, each polymer brush displays a constant A_θ value over a temperature range of ?15°C to 90°C, which is hardly affected by the graft density and brush thickness. At 25°C, A_θ is 10 times greater than the corresponding azimuthal anchoring energy coefficient (A_φ); therefore, NLCs on polymer brushes can be preferentially aligned along the in-plane component of the applied field.     

Copolymers of methyl methacrylate and fluoroalkyl methacrylates: Effects of fluoroalkyl groups on the thermal and optical properties of the copolymers

Fluoroalkyl methacrylates, 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate ( 1 ), hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate ( 2 ), 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐methyl‐2‐propyl methacrylate ( 3 ), and perfluoro t‐butyl methacrylate ( 4 ) were synthesized. Homopolymers and copolymers of these fluoroalkyl methacrylates with methyl methacrylate (MMA) were prepared and characterized. With the exception of the copolymers of MMA and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate ( 1 ), the glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of the copolymers were found to deviate positively from the Gordon‐Taylor equation. The positive deviation from the Gordon‐Taylor equation could be accounted for by the dipole–dipole intrachain interaction between the methyl ester group and the fluoroalkyl ester group of the monomer units. These T_g values of the copolymers were found to fit with the Schneider equation. The fitting parameters in the Schneider equation were calculated, and R² values, the coefficients of determination, were almost 1.0. The refractive indices of the copolymers, measured at 532, 633, and 839 nm wavelengths, were lower than that of PMMA and showed a linear relationship with monomer composition in the copolymers. 2 and MMA have a tendency to polymerize in an alternating uniform monomer composition, resulting in less light scattering. This result suggests that the copolymer prepared with an equal molar ratio of 2 and MMA may have useful properties with applications in optical devices. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4748–4755, 2008