Novel Synthetic Route to Liquid Crystalline 4,4'-Bis(n-Alkoxy) Azoxybenzenes: Spectral Characterisation, Mesogenic Behaviour and Crystal Structure of Two New Members
Abstract
A simple synthetic method has been developed for the preparation of long-chain 4,4'-bis(n-alkoxy)azoxybenzenes by reductive coupling of 4-n-alkoxynitrobenzenes using zinc powder and ammonium chloride in aqueous ethanol medium at ambient temperature. The new method was employed to synthesise known members (n=1-12) of the 4,4'-bis(n-alkoxy)azoxybenzene (C n H2n+1OPhN(O)=NPhOC n H2n+1) series and also two hitherto unknown members (n=13-14) of the series. The new compounds were characterised using spectral (IR, UV-visible, 1H NMR and FAB-MS) data. The mesogenic behaviour of both compounds was studied by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and small-angle X-ray diffraction techniques. The crystal structure of 4,4'-bis(n-tetradecyloxy)azoxybenzene was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The packing of the molecules in the crystalline state is found to be a precursor to the smectic C phase structure.
Recommended Citation
P. K. Das et al., "Novel Synthetic Route to Liquid Crystalline 4,4'-Bis(n-Alkoxy) Azoxybenzenes: Spectral Characterisation, Mesogenic Behaviour and Crystal Structure of Two New Members," Liquid Crystals, vol. 35, no. 5, pp. 541 - 548, Taylor & Francis Ltd., May 2008.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/02678290802015705
Department(s)
Chemistry
Keywords and Phrases
azoxybenzenes; Crystal structure; Smectic phase precursor
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0267-8292
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2008 Taylor & Francis Ltd., All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 May 2008