The effect of terminal substituents on crystal structure, mesophase behaviour and optical property of azo-ester linked materials

A series of azo-ester linked mesogen containing liquid crystalline acrylate compounds C1-C6 having different terminal groups (–F, –Cl, –Br, –OCH3, –OC2H5 and –OC3H7) were successfully synthesised and characterised. The chemical structure, purity, thermal stability, mesophase behaviour and optical property of the synthesised compounds were investigated by different instrumental techniques. X-ray crystal structure showed that compounds C1, C4 and C5 exhibited more stable E configuration with two bulky group in the opposite side of the N=N double bond motifs. The fluoro-substituted derivative (C1) is connected by the R12(5) type of C–H…O hydrogen bond motifs whereas the molecules of C4, and C5 are connected to each other by means cyclic R22(8) type of C–H…O hydrogen bond motifs. Thermogravimetric study revealed that the…