The influence of linking group in exterior point on mesogenic properties of the basket moulded molecules: calix[4]arene

Abstract

Novel basket-shaped molecules having calix[4]arene as central rigid core possessing azomaterial in outer space unit in the lengthening arm were synthesised and characterised by elemental analysis and different spectroscopic methods such as Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), electron spin ionization (ESI)-MASS, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ¹³C NMR. Mesomorphism behaviour of novel materials was studied using optical polarising microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and higher-temperature powder X-ray diffraction method to confirm smectic C phase. In most of the compounds, we found rod-like mosaic texture and focal conic textures of smectic C phases. Nematic phases were also quite often found in materials during cooling and heating stage from isotropic phases. The dielectric measurements have been carried out for the determination of real and imaginary parts of the permittivity of the newly designed scaffolds. These studies will give adequate prospects in the field of supramolecular system, especially in calixarene organisation to explore new epoch of calixarene-based liquid crystals with different linking groups.

Keywords:

• calix[4]arene
• liquid crystal
• linking group
• basket mesogens
• smectic C phase
• dielectric property

Acknowledgements

Financial assistance from UGC, New Delhi and CSMCRI, Bhavnagar for spectral analysis are gratefully acknowledged. We also gratefully acknowledged to Mr. Hemant Chaube (Department of Physics, Gujarat University) for his valuable contribution.

†Electronic Supplementary Information (ESI) contains synthesis procedure, FT-IR data and ¹H NMR data.