Synthesis and phase transition behavior of compounds containing a cyclic unit and a rod-like core

Abstract

We designed mesogenic compounds containing a cyclic unit and a rigid rod-like core, and investigated the physical properties using optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The compound possessing a cyanobiphenyl moiety exhibited a monotropic nematic phase. The appearance of the nematic phase for the compound is thought to be attributed to antiparallel interactions between cyanobiphenyl moieties. Addition of the compound possessing a phenylpyrimidine moiety to a host liquid crystal suppressed crystallization of the mixture without decreasing the liquid crystallinity.