Synthesis and smectogenic properties of novel phloroglucinol-based star-shaped liquid crystals containing three peripheral alkyloxylated Schiff base arms

Abstract

A series of symmetrical trimeric liquid crystalline compounds of which the molecular structure with a central core of 1,3,5-benzene attached by three rod-like mesogenic Schiff base moieties via the propylene spacers and ether linkages has successfully been synthesised and characterised by infra red and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. All the star-shaped compounds in this series exhibit predominantly SmC phase except the analogue possessing terminal C8H17 group. It is apparent that the members with even parity from C10H21 to C16H33 show enantiotropic SmC phase while the member with longest terminal chain of C18H37 is inclined to monotropic smectogen. The X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that the tilted smectic layer structures of the SmC phase are confirmed to have an obvious sharp peak at small angles of 2 approximate to 1.03 degrees 1.48 degrees with d-spacing values of 4.014.58 nm, which are corresponding to tilt angles of approximate to 48 degrees in the SmC phase.