Polar cyano/nitrile group-derived rod-shaped nematic liquid crystals: synthesis and characterizations^†

Abstract

The cyano/nitrile group-derived calamitic molecules are synthesized and characterized for the search of pure nematic phase. The chemical structures were confirmed using standard spectroscopic techniques such as IR, NMR, and elemental analysis. Mesophases were analyzed and characterized by the combination of POM, DSC, and X-ray analysis methods. Most of the compounds show nematic mesophases with moderate transition ranges. Further detailed studies may leads to special nematics like uniaxial/biaxial nematic, twist-bent nematic and cybotactic nematic mesophases.

Keywords:

• Calamitics
• cyanonaphthalene
• cyanobiphenyls
• nematic LCs
• cinnamic acid

Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to Sophisticated Instrumentation Facility, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru for recording some NMR spectra and thankful to Mrs. K. N. Vasudha regarding DSC and X-Ray studies.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors