4-(Aroyloxybenzoyloxy)benzonitriles with pronounced homeotropic SmA alignment

ABSTRACT

A series of 4-(aroyloxybenzoyloxy)benzonitriles was synthesised and their thermal, mesomorphic and photophysical properties were characterised. The lower homologues show only nematic phase, whereas higher members of the series exhibit long-range smectic A phase with a pronounced homeotropic organisation. This alignment is desired for in-plane charge conduction, allowing applications as active layer in organic field effect transistors. The compounds showed an intense absorption band between 250 to 300 nm.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Benzonitriles
• cyanoesters
• smectogenic nitriles
• cyanophenyls

Acknowledgments

The authors also thank the Laboratório de Difração de Raios-X (LDRX/UFSC) for the XRD experiments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Higher Education Commision, Pakistan [Project No 20-2397]; Higher Education Commission, Pakistan [20-2397].