Azomesogens with 1,2,4-trisubstituted benzene moiety

Abstract

New mesogenic homologous series having an azo central linkage was synthesized by fixing a rigid 4-methyl phenyl azo group to resorcinol moiety. The terminal and lateral phenolic -OH groups were esterified, one by one, with 4-n-alkoxybenzoyl and acetyl group, respectively. All the twelve homologues synthesized exhibit mesomorphism. The methoxy to n-decyloxy and n-hexadecyloxy derivatives exhibit monotropic nematic mesophase whereas, n-dodecyloxy and n-tetradecyloxy derivatives exhibit enantiotropic nematic mesophase. The mesogenic properties of the present series was compared with those of other structurally related mesogenic series.