Molecular Self-Organization through Hydrogen Bonds Formed between Liquid-Crystalline Compounds Containing 1,2-Diol Moiety and Heterocyclic Molecules

Abstract

Molecular self-organization of liquid crystals has been achieved by the formation of intermolecular hydrogen-bonded networks between mesogenic diol compounds and imidazole molecules. For example, a 1:1 mixture of 4-cyano-4'-(5,6-dihydroxyhexyloxy)biphenyl and imidazole shows a smectic A phase over wide temperature range, while the diol compound exhibits only a nematic phase and the imidazole is nonmesogenic. This is a new type of liquid-crystalline materials obtained by the formation of hydrogen-bonded network between different components.