Cinnamic acid and biphenyl core calamitic asymmetric molecules: preparation and characterization for mesomorphic properties

Abstract

ABSTRACT Some cinnamic acid and biphenyl core-derived calamitic molecules were synthesized and characterized for mesomorphic properties. Newly synthesized compounds showed well-defined schlieren textures and mosaic textures for the nematic phase and a relatively well-organized smectic A phase with focal conic textures. The chemical structures were confirmed by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analysis. The thermotropic behavior, optical textures and thermal stability have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM), X-ray diffraction (SAXS) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) respectively.