New five‐ring symmetrical bent‐core mesogens exhibiting the fascinating B₇ phase

Abstract

Three new homologous series of symmetrical five‐ring bent‐core compounds have been synthesized and investigated for their mesomorphic properties. The laterally unsubstituted parent compounds exhibit a metastable SmCP_A phase. However, the two series of compounds containing a strongly polar cyano or nitro group at the angular position of the central phenyl unit show the fascinating classical B₇ phase. The mesophases have been characterized using standard techniques.

Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank Ms K. N. Vasudha for technical support and NMR Research Center, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore for recording the NMR spectra.