The synthesis and characterization of two benzyloxy-terminated
isoxazole liquid crystals, (ILCs) 7a (n-octyl) and 7b (n-decyl), are described.
The synthesis of the five-membered isoxazole ring was based on the
(3 + 2) 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to furnish the isoxazoline cycloadduct
and the subsequent MnO2-oxidation. The liquid crystal (LC)
behavior was accomplished by polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential
scanning calorimetry, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray diffraction
(XRD), 7-lithium nuclear magnetic resonance (7Li-NMR),
and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. For both ILCs, the
nematic cybotactic (Ncyb) and smectic A and C mesophases were characterized.
Two organizational monolayer and bilayer regimes for the smectic A
and C mesophases were characterized by the XRD pattern, and the Ncyb
mesophase was assigned by the analysis of the low intensity of the
peak at 2θ = 2.70°, suggesting some smectic character for
the nematic mesophase. A correlation length (ξ) of around 20
layers and 7 layers was established by XRD for the monolayer and bilayer
organization in the SmC mesophase. Single-crystal XRD, 7Li-NMR experiments, and DFT calculations were performed and are discussed
in the context of the LC behavior influenced by the benzyloxy-terminated
group. A model for the layering organization is presented as well
as the organization in the Ncyb, SmA, and SmC mesophases.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.