Mesomorphic behaviour of di[(4-substituted phenyl)esters] of aromatic dicarboxylic acids

Some di(4-alkyloxyphenyl ester)s of aromatic dicarboxylic acids which presumably exert significant steric hindrance to molecular packing, such as di(2- and/or 3-methyl or -chloro-4-alkyloxyphenyl) 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylates, di(2- and/or 3-methyl-4-alkyloxyphenyl) 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylates, and di(4-alkylxyphenyl) 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylates, are shown to indicate nematic liquid-crystalline behaviour.