A new liquid crystal compound based on an ionic imidazolium salt

The preparation of 1,3-bis-(4-dodecyloxy-phenyl)-3H-imidazol-1-ium trifluoro-methanesulfonate is described from the 4-dodecyloxy phenylamine derivative. This new imidazolium salt exhibits a lamellar liquid crystal mesophase between 119 and 172 degrees C. The Smectic A phase has been characterised by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. In addition the lamellar crystallographic structure obtained on single crystal is reported and corroborated the self-assembly of molecules in the mesomorphic state. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.