Spectroscopic study of liquid crystalline N-[4-(4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-hydroxybenzylidene]hydroxyanilines

New homologous series of N-[4-(4-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-2-hydroxybenzylidene]h ydroxyanilines were synthesized. All 4-hydroxyaniline derivatives exhibited a nematic phase, while 3-hydroxyaniline and 2-hydroxyaniline derivatives e xhibited only a nematic phase as the terminal alkoxy group was lengthened. Infrared spectra suggest that the 4-hydroxyaniline derivatives form intermo lecular hydrogen bonding of the single bridge type, while the 3-hydroxy and 2-hydroxy derivatives form the polymer type. The Raman band at around 1360 cm(-1) exhibited large differences in intensity among these derivatives. T his can be explained by the effect of intermolecular or hydrogen bonding mo lecular conformation.