Synthesis and characterization of liquid crystal methyl methacrylic monomers

Three liquid crystalline monomers were systematically designed, synthesised and characterised. Methyl methacrylic unit was linked to the mesogenic compound, 4′-Undecycloxybiphenyl-4-yl 4-octyloxy-2-(pent-4-en-1-yloxy) benzoate, ( Me ), using disiloxane, ester and siloxane units respectively. In the first compound, 4′-(undecyloxy)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl 2-((5-(3-(4-(methacryloyloxy)butyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxanyl)pentyl)oxy)-4-(octyloxy)benzoate, ( M1 ), the methyl methacrylic unit was linked to the mesogen by disiloxane group, (Si–O–Si), while ester group, (COOC), was used in the second compound, 4′-(undecyloxy)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl 2-((5-(methacryloyloxy)pentyl)oxy)-4-(octyloxy)benzoate, ( M2 ), and siloxane unit, (Si–O), in the third compound, 4′-(undecyloxy)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl 2-((5-((4-(methacryloyloxy)butyl)dimethylsilyl)pentyl)oxy)-4-(octyloxy)benzoate, ( M3 ). The introduction of the methyl methacrylic unit caused the melting point of the compounds to reduce with Me melting at 53.3 °C, M1 at −8.1 °C and M2 at −12.5 °C. The three compounds showed characteristic nematic textures when observed under POM and when compared to the mesogenic compound ( Me , 71.7 °C), there were remarkable reduction in the clearing points of the compounds, with M1 clearing at 18.6 °C, M2 at 68.8 °C and M3 at 10.3 °C. Finally, there was appreciable increment in the nematic phase range for the compounds when compared to the mesogen, Me , 18.4 °C. The range was 26.7 °C for M1 , 81.3 °C for M2 and since there was no observable crystallization point for M3, the range was not determined.