Mesogenicity of testosterone and estrone derivatives

Mesogenicity of 3β, 17β-bis(4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy) androstene homologues (BABA) (carbon No. of alkoxy group, n, = 1-10) were studied by use of D.S.C. and a polarized microscopy. It was found that the n = 4-10 compounds of BABA have one cholesteric mesophase with high thermal stability enantiotropically, and that the n = 1-3 compounds decompose just above the melting point. Mesogenicities of BABA and several testosterone and estrone derivatives were also discussed from the perspective of chemical structure and shape. The presence of an intramolecular long-range dipole coupling in two alkoxybenzoyloxy chromophores is found in BABA from CD spectral studies.