New non-conventional lithocholic acid derivatives: synthesis and characterisations for mesogenic properties

Abstract

The synthesis and characterisations of bulky lithocholic acid derivatives of triphenylene, pyrene, cholesterol and other rod-shaped molecules are described. All compounds are non-mesogenic, except azo-based compound that shows monotonically Smectic A mesophase. The new chemical structures were characterised by IR, 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance and microelemental analysis techniques. Thermal investigations and mesophase characterisations for all the compounds were carried out by the combination of differential scanning calorimetry, polarised optical microscope and X-ray analysis. The effects of various terminal cores connecting to middle lithocholic acid on liquid crystal properties with its structurally related compounds were discussed.