Liquid-Crystalline Compounds Consisting of Two Mesogenic Cores in Parallel Conformation

Behaviors and organization of novel liquid-crystalline compounds 1 and 2, which have an iminodicarbonyl moiety as a curved central junction and consist of two mesogenic units in parallel conformation, were investigated. Compound 2a showed a nematic phase which has extremely small transition enthalpy (0.045 kcal/mol) and a broad temperature range of pressure-induced nematic phase. The smectic A phase of 1b and 2b showed interdigitation of alkyl chains which originates in the molecular structure which has two cores with three alkyl chains in parallel conformation.