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.

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

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