N,N-disubstituted aminophenylazo-4-benzoates: preparation, mesogenic study, structure determination and molecular modelling

A series of alkyl N,N-disubstituted aminophenylazo-4-benzoates were prepare d from the reactions of an acyl phenylpiperazine with a series of the diazo nium salts. The mesogenic behaviours of the resulting dyes were studied by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Single crystal structure determination, powder XRD, and molecular modelling of a representative compound were also undertaken to understand the relative str uctural conformation.