Unsymmetrical tetracatenar liquid crystals containing 2-phenylbenzoxazole: Synthesis and characterisation.

A series of 2-phenylbenzoxazole derivatives containing an intramolecular hydrogen-bonded Schiff's base linkage have been synthesised. All are liquid crystalline, displaying only the smectic phase transition, apart from one compound which seems to be non-mesogenic. These compounds may be the first examples reported of tetracatenar liquid crystals containing the 2-phenylbenzoxazole moiety. The optical properties of the target compounds were evaluated in solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]