Disc-like Mesogens: Synthesis and Characterization of a Series of Rufigallol-hexa-n-alkanoates

Abstract

Abstract Aliphatic esters of rufigallol with formula have been prepared and their phase transitions studied by differential scanning calorimetry, x-ray diffraction, and optical methods. Compounds with 6 < m < 13 give enantiotropic columnar mesophases; those with 7 < m < 9 give also a monotropic mesophase. Both melting temperature and entropy are sensitive to the parity of the number of atoms contained in the flexible part of the molecules. No similar effect is present at the isotropization transition. Calorimetric data relative to the phase transitions, x-ray and optical patterns of the liquid crystalline phases are shown.