Mesogenic Schiff's base ether with dimethylamino end group

Abstract

A series of Schiff base ethers comprising a dimethylamino group at one terminal position and an even number of carbons at the other along the molecular axis was studied. The dimethylamino unit, acting as a charge-transfer donor in the formation of conjugative interactions, contributes to the molecule's polarizability and in turn affecting its intermolecular interactions, leading to the formation of less-ordered mesophase. The mesomorphic properties were studied using polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Whilst the n-butyloxy to n-hexadecyloxy derivatives exhibited nematic phase, the n-ethyloxy, n-propyloxy and n-octadecyloxy derivatives were not mesogenic. Their phase transitions during heating and cooling run were presented. The title compounds were compared with other structurally related series to establish their chemical structure-mesomorphic property relationships.