Influence of terminally attached branched alkyloxy chains on the mesophase behaviour of calamitic liquid crystals.

Three sets of new rod-shaped liquid crystals with one terminal fixed branched alkyl chain, other terminal with varying normal alkyl chain, and central naphthalene with terminal branched chain derived symmetric molecules were synthesized and characterized. Chemical structures were confirmed by standard analytical methods. Liquid crystal properties were evaluated with the help of differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy and X-ray studies. All the compounds favoured to exhibit highly birefringent smectic and nematic mesophase textures. Further, symmetric naphthalene derivatives preferably exhibited nematic mesophase with elevated transition temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]