Novel calamitic liquid crystalline molecules with lateral intermolecular hydrogen bonding

Abstract

Rod-like liquid crystalline compounds 1-3 possessing an amide group and an m- or p-substituted alkoxy chain were synthesized and their thermodynamic behaviors and layer structures were investigated. Molecules in the smectic C phase of 1 were organized partially into a synparallel aggregation with the weak lateral intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the layers. On the other hand, molecules in the smectic Cx phase of 2 were self-assembled into the synparallel organization with the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding. Additionally in the case of 3 which has a spacer between the amide group and the spinning core, the molecules generated a highly ordered smectic phase (n = 5, SmCx) and a chiral cubic phase (n = 10).