Synthesis and Mesomorphic Properties of 2-(4-Alkyloxyphenyl)benzothiazoles

Abstract

A homologous series of 2-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)benzothiazoles with an even number of carbons in the terminal alkoxyl chain was synthesized and characterized. The structure of the compounds was postulated using elemental analyses, FT-IR, NMR, and mass spectrometry techniques. Their liquid crystalline properties have been investigated by optical polarizing microscopy, DSC, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Whilst the n-octyloxy to n-hexadecyloxy derivatives exhibited a monotropic smectic A phase, the n-ethoxy to n-hexyloxy and the n-octadecyloxy derivatives were not mesogenic. The mesomorphic properties of the present series were compared with other structurally related series to establish the chemical structure-mesomorphic properties relationship.