Liquid crystalline compounds with V-shaped molecular structures: synthesisand characterization of new azo compounds

The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a series of 1,2-phenylene bis[4 -(4-alkyloxyphenylazo) benzoates] are reported. The mesophases exhibited by these bent-shaped azo compounds are identified as nematic, smectic A and c rystal E phases. All these compounds have fairly low transition temperature s, and so are suitable for physical studies. It has been concluded that the -CH=N- linkage can be more conducive to mesomorphism compared with the -N= N- linkage.