Synthesis and characterization of thermotropic amphiphilic liquid crystals: semiperfluoroalkyl-beta-D-glucopyranosides

As part of our study of the mesomorphic properties of glucopyranosides cont aining fluorinated chains, this paper focuses on an investigation of the li quid crystalline behaviour of nonaromatic compounds. The synthesis of eight single-tailed materials which contain a semiperfluoroalkyl chain linked to the polar glucose head group is described. Using polarized optical microsc opy, DSC and X-ray diffraction all the materials were found to show only mo nomesomorphism, a smectic A phase with bimolecular layers. The thermal beha viour is discussed in comparison with the previously reported data on the s eries of parent compounds.