Synthesis and Thermal Analysis of Fourteen Homologous Mesogenic Monoesters of Biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic Acid

Abstract

We have synthesized fifteen homologous di-n-alkyl (dimethyl through di-n-pentadecyl) esters of biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid. None of these is mesomorphic. However, monohydrolysis of the upper fourteen homologues yielded monoesters all exhibiting polymesomorphism. The phase transitions have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and four mesophases exhibited by this series have been tentatively identified by hot-stage polarized microscopy.