Measurements of the order parameter by proton N.M.R. on N-(4-alkoxybenzylidene)4'-toluidines

N-(4-alkoxybenzylidene)4'-toluidines are a family of organic compounds which present a nematic and (depending on the chain length) a smectic mesophase. We have performed proton spin echo measurements on some members of the family in these mesophases. N.M.R. spectra present well-defined structures that can be assigned to one of the two end methyl groups on the basis of phenomenological as well as analytical discussion, despite the large number of protons contributing to the total line shape. The order parameter derived from this analysis is compared with optical data on the same compounds.