Synthesis and mesomorphic behaviour of new mesogenic compounds possessing a cholesteryl ester moiety connected to a pyrimidine core

New mesogenic compounds containing, a cholesteryl ester and a pyrimidine moiety connected through a polymethylene spacer have been prepared. The mode of linkage has been made via -C=C- and -C=N- to undelstand the structure-property relationship. Only two compounds with a pentamethylene spacer show mesomorphic behaviour. The mesomorphic behaviour has been investigated by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and HRXRD studies. Enantiotropic smectic A, twist grain boundary (TGB), and chiral nematic mesophases are exhibited by the newly synthesized compounds. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.