Synthesis, characterization and molecular organization for induced smectic phase of triazole ring in non-symmetric liquid crystalline dimer

Abstract

New non-symmetric liquid crystal dimers containing cholesterol, triazole and biphenylene segments have been synthesized via click reaction. Increase in the flexible spacers length affects the mesophase formation. The homologues with short and medium alkyl spacer exhibit SmA* and SmC* phases whilst the analogue with the longest spacer favors the formation of enantiotropic SmA and N* phases. The XRD studies reveal the emergence of the SmA* and SmC* phases that can be associated with the monolayer ordering of these dimers. Further investigation through a comparison study shows that the triazole ring affects the mesophase formation wherein apart from the molecular dipole the subtle electrostatic interaction and van der Waal's forces enhance the SmC* phase.