The crystal structure analysis of the following three mesogenic cyanoa
zines is reported: -methoxybenzaldehyde-(4-cyanobenzylidene)hydrazone
(E, E) (azine 1), 4-methoxyacetophenone- (4-cyanobenzylidene)hydrazone
(E, E) (azine 2), ybenzaldehyde-[4-cyanophenyl)-ethylidene]hydrazone
(E, E) (azine 3). These azines are simple models of monomeric precurso
rs for the synthesis of comb-like polymers with potential nonlinear op
tical properties of the second order. The crystal structures have been
determined at room temperature by direct methods and refined by full
matrix least squares method. Some differences in the solid state confo
rmation of the azines are found as a result of the introduction of a m
ethyl group onto the azine system. The relation between molecular conf
ormation and mesogenic behavior of the three azines is also discussed.