New liquid crystal based on 2-phenylthiophene central core

Abstract

Six series of bent-shaped liquid crystals based on phenylthiophene central unit and differing in lateral substitution, the number and orientation of ester linkages and character of the terminal chain have been synthesised and studied. In comparison with the previously investigated biphenyl-based analogues, the presence of the thiophene unit results in a strong increase of transition temperatures and appearance of calamitic phases, the character of which depended on the structural changes of mesogens.

Keywords:

• liquid crystals
• 2-phenylthiophene
• ester linkages
• calamitic phases

Acknowledgements

V.N. thanks Dr Damian Pociecha from the Warsaw University for assistance with X-ray measurements.