New Schiff's bases containing 1,3,4-thiadiazole and 1,3,4-oxadiazole units:: a study of the effect of the heterocyclic ring and the position of the lateral alkoxy group on liquid crystalline properties

The synthesis of novel Schiff's bases incorporating the five-membered 1,3,4-thiadiazole (series 7, 9) and 1,3,4-oxadiazole (series 8, 10) rings have been prepared and their liquid crystalline properties studied. All compounds of series 7 exhibit an enantiotropic smectic C phase. No liquid crystalline properties were observed for the compounds of series 8-10. A study of the structure/mesomorphic activity relationship is also described.