No abstract

Lithium, sodium and potassium isobutyrates, isovalerates and isocaproates were submitted to a differential scanning calorimetric investigation in the temperature range between 320 K and the isotropic melt region. The collected phase transition temperatures and heat effects are compared to those of the corresponding linear isomers. In particular the occurrence of mesomorphic liquids and the width of their existence fields is discussed.

The investigation on phase relationships and pertinent heat effects in branched alkali alkanoates was extended to lithium, sodium and potassium 2,2-dimethylpropanoates, 2-ethylbutanoates and 3,3-dimethylbutanoates. The results allow to discuss some aspects of the thermal behaviour of these salts, among which only the potassium ones can still exist as mesomorphic liquids.