Mesomorphic properties of a homologous series of substituted benzoyloxybenzoates

Abstract

A homologous series of twelve 4-cyanophenyl-3-methyl-4-(4-n-alkylbenzoyloxy) benzoates have been prepared and their mesomorphic properties characterised. All these compounds are colourless, stable and have large positive dielectric anisotropy. The first ten homologues are purely nematic and have a wide thermal range. The undecyloxy and dodecyloxy derivatives exhibit a smectic phase in addition to the nematic phase. A plot of the nematic-isotropic transition temperatures against the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain shows the usual odd-even effect.