Terminal Chains as a Tool To Modulate the Properties of Bent-Core Liquid Crystals

Two series of bent-shaped liquid crystals derived from 4,4′-diphenylmethane and 3,4′-biphenylene moieties have been prepared and studied. The research, focused on the effect of the terminal chains on the mesogenic properties of bent-core compounds, demonstrates that they can be used as a tool to control their liquid crystal behavior. Together with achiral and chiral alkoxy tails, thioalkoxy chains and unusual terminal structures on bent-core mesogens such as oxyethylene moieties or unsaturated tails of different lengths have been investigated. Mesomorphism as well as dielectric responses of the new materials are reported and discussed in light of structural considerations. Interesting results concerning lowering of transition temperatures, mesophase vitrification, or columnar−lamellar sequences have been achieved by the incorporation of these terminal chains.