Synthesis and characterization of two isomeric liquid crystal series with reactive double bonds

Abstract

Two series of potentially cross-linkable liquid crystal materials derived from p-phenylenebisacrylic (series I, n(P.FB.P), n = 2–10) and p-hydroxycinnamic acid (series II, n(HC.T.HC), n = 2–10) have been synthesized and their thermal and mesomorphic properties studied. All these compounds show enantiotropic mesomorphism over a wide range of temperatures. Compounds with short terminal chains are nematic and when the terminal chain length is increased they show smectic polymorphism-smectic A and C. Most of the compounds are thermally stable over their mesophase ranges.