Synthetic Approaches Towards a de Vries Phase and Mesomorphic Studies of a Novel Series of Calamitic Liquid Crystals

We aim at continuing our research in calamitic organosiloxane liquid crystal materials and to build upon the successes of previous years (14 publications in 11 years), we propose to design and synthesize at SQU a series of homologous materials based on modifications and analogs of materials previously synthetized at SQU. In this proposed work, we intend to modify the mesogenic moiety attached to the siloxane group. To our knowledge, this has not been reported in the literature. We also propose to add a second fluorine atom to the mesogenic core and to vary the length of the alkyl chain. We expect all the materials to display ferroelectric phases and some to display de Vries SA* (Smectic A*) behavior. We also expect to observe a highly organized SF* (Smectic F*) in a few of the materials. This timely relevant project can be achieved at a relatively low cost. The Liquid-Crystal Laboratory has been well-equipped through previous funding by SQU. The chemistry for the synthesis is now well established in the chemistry department and our partners in India can provide accurate polarized optical microscopy data, which in conjunction with DSC data obtained here at SQU will yield reliable and publishable results.