New columnar liquid crystals Correlation between molecular structure and mesomorphic behaviour

Abstract

Abstract The effect of molecular structural changes on the mesomorphic nature of a new class of macrocyclic columnar liquid crystal is reported. Twenty-six new compounds with general molecular structure I were prepared, characterized and compared. Only dodecasubstituted ester derivatives 2d-h exhibit thermotropic mesophases. The design of mesogens based on these new, unusual macrocyclic cores requires the presence of the following structural elements: twelve aliphatic side chains, esters as bridging units and small R groups on the core.