The effect of the alkyl chain length on the mesomorphic properties of new lactic acid derivatives

0432530 - FZÚ 2015 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Kašpar, Miroslav - Hamplová, Věra - Novotná, Vladimíra - Pacherová, Oliva
The effect of the alkyl chain length on the mesomorphic properties of new lactic acid derivatives.
Liquid Crystals. Roč. 41, č. 8 (2014), 1179-1187. ISSN 0267-8292. E-ISSN 1366-5855
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA13-14133S
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : liquid crystals * lactate derivatives
Subject RIV: JJ - Other Materials
Impact factor: 2.486, year: 2014

New series of lactic acid derivatives with alkyl terminal chain have been synthesised and their mesomorphic properties studied. We have varied the length of chiral and non-chiral terminal alkyl chains and found that prolonging both chains has a strong effect on the SmA*–SmC* phase transition. Most of the new materials exhibit only paraelectric SmA* phase; for homologues with a longer non-chiral chain (m ≥ 10), the ferroelectric (SmC*) phase appears below the SmA* on cooling and persists down to a room temperature. The role of the chiral terminal chain in the molecule is quite opposite – only its short length supports the existence of ferroelectric phase. Additionally, a hexatic phase appeared below the SmA*–SmC* phase sequence for several homologues at low temperatures. Liquid crystalline properties of new materials have been compared with the previously prepared and studied lactic acid derivatives.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0236873