ABSTRACT
To enhance the activity of the hydroxyl group of diosgenin, the diosgenyl derivative Dios–(CH2)6–OH with an alkyl spacer and end primary hydroxyl group was synthesised via the chain extension reaction between diosgenin and 1,6-hexanediol. Then the liquid crystal (LC) compounds Dios–(CH2)6–(trimethylene carbonate [TMC])n with different TMC content were obtained via the ring-opening polymerisation of TMC with Dios–(CH2)6–OH as initiator and mesogenic unit, importantly, there was no catalyst added. The chemical structures of the Dios–(CH2)6–OH and Dios–(CH2)6–(TMC)n were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and 1H NMR. The mesomorphism was characterised by polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurement, and the phase transition was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that Dios–(CH2)6–(TMC)n displayed an enantiotropic smectic phase, and TMC content played an important role in the LC properties of Dios–(CH2)6–(TMC)n. The higher the TMC content, the lower the phase transition temperature of Dios–(CH2)6–(TMC)n.
Graphical Abstract
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Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.