Synthesis and properties of three novel series of monomers containing para-methoxyazobenzene as the mesogenic group

Three novel series of monomers, namely n-1-bromo-[4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)phenyloxy]-alkanes (Bn, n = 3, 6, 10), n-[4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)phenyloxy]alkyloxy-4-methoxybenzene (Cn, n = 3, 6, 10) and n-[4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)phenyloxy]alkyloxy-[4-methoxy-2,5-bis(chloromethyl)]benzene (Dn, n = 3, 6, 10) were synthesized and characterized with FTIR, ¹H NMR, UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. Their thermal behaviour was studied by different scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. The results show that B3, B6 and C6 exhibit monotropic nematic liquid crystalline behaviour.