Spectroscopic Study of a Disc-Like Liquid Crystal: Hexa-N-Nonanoyloxytriphenylene Structure and Dynamics of the Alkyl Chains

Abstract

The structure of the alkyl chains bonded to the aromatic core in hexa-n-nonanoyloxytriphenylene is studied as a function of temperature. In the crystal phase, the spectra suggest a disorder of the chains due to angular fluctuations about the carbon-carbon bonds in the vicinity of trans states. Numerous conformational defects appear at the first phase transition.