Novel Chiral,Sulfur-Containing Heteroarotinoids with Liquid Crystal Properties

Synthetic methods were developed to prepare ethyl (E)-4-[2-(3,4-dihydro-2-n-octyl-1-oxy-2H-1-benzothio-pyran-6-yl)-1-propenyl]benzoate ( 1 ) and ethyl (E)-4-[2-(3,4-dihydro-2-n-octyl-2H-1-benzothiopyran-6-yl)-1-propenyl]benzoate ( 10 ). These are the first examples of heteroarotinoids which possess properties of liquid crystals. The properties were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry and by use of polarizing micrography. Both displayed textures which are typical of a smectic or cholesteric phase.