Mesogenic naphthyl derivatives

Two new mesogenic homologous series of liquid crystalline naphthalene derivatives with different central linkages: 2- Naphthyl-4-n-alkoxybenzoates (I) and trans-2-Naphthyl -4-n -alkoxycinnamates(II), have been synthesized and characterized by a combination of elemental analysis and standard spectroscopic methods. Twelve compounds have been synthesized in both the series I and II. In series I, methoxy to n-pentyloxy derivatives are non mesogenic, n-hexyloxy to n-hexadecyloxy derivatives exhibit monotropic nematic mesophase. Smectic A mesophase commences from n-decyloxy derivatives as a monotropy and persist up to the last member synthesized. All the 12 compounds of series II exhibit mesomorphism. Methoxy to n-propyloxy derivatives exhibit monotropic nematic mesophse, and n-butyloxy to n-tetradecyloxy derivatives exhibit enantiotropic nematic mesophase. n-Hexayloxy to n-hexadecyloxy derivatives also exhibit enantiotropic smectic A mesophase. The mesomorphic properties of present series were compared with each other and with a structurally related mesogenic homologous series to evaluate the effects of central linkage on mesomorphism.