H. Allouchi et al., RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE CRYSTALLINE AND THE SMECTIC-C STRUCTURES OFA BIFORKED MESOGEN, Chemistry of materials, 7(12), 1995, pp. 2252-2258
The crystal structure of a biforked mesogen containing thiobenzoate bi
s(4-[4-(3,4-dinonyloxy)benzoylthio] phenyl)-trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicar
boxylate) is described. This compound exhibits interesting nematic and
smectic phases, The molecule crystallizes in the P (1) over bar space
group (Z = 2) with one molecule per asymmetric unit, a = 9.202(4) Ang
strom, b = 10.139(2) Angstrom, c = 38.089 Angstrom alpha = 96.05(1)deg
rees, beta = 84.29(3)degrees, and gamma = 96.71(3)degrees. Molecules a
dopt a zigzag conformation, with the four alkoxy chains stretched and
approximately parallel to the (yet) plane; the mean axis of the alkoxy
chains makes an angle close to 140 degrees with the central core, and
the molecules are arranged in sheets of about 38 Angstrom thickness,
as in a smectic C mesophase. The smectic C phase is analyzed by X-ray
diffraction and dilatometry. The molecular arrangement in the mesophas
e is found to be very similar to that in the crystal phase, suggesting
that the structure at room-temperature predetermines the type of meso
phase observed at high temperature with small variations of the struct
ural parameters.