Synthesis and Thermotropic Studies of a New Series of Teraryl Liquid Crystals 2-(4'-Alkoxybiphen-4-yl)-5-Cyanopyridines

A new series of teraryl 2-(4'-alkoxybiphen-4-yl)-5-cyanopyridines (nO-PPPyCN, n = 2–8) compounds, bearing a cyanopyridine terminus, were synthesized using a short 2-step reaction with overall yields between 33% and 69%. Spectral analyses were in accord with the expected structures. Thermotr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xue-Ming Lin, Win-Long Chia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2013-09-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/14/9/18809
Description
Summary:A new series of teraryl 2-(4'-alkoxybiphen-4-yl)-5-cyanopyridines (nO-PPPyCN, n = 2–8) compounds, bearing a cyanopyridine terminus, were synthesized using a short 2-step reaction with overall yields between 33% and 69%. Spectral analyses were in accord with the expected structures. Thermotropic behavior of the teraryl compounds was investigated using polarised optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. All compounds exhibited both enantiotropic nematic and smectic A phases, with an additional enantiotropic smectic C phase when n = 7 and 8. Polymesomorphism appears to be a common behavior in this series of linear liquid crystal compounds.
ISSN:1422-0067