Synthesis and properties of high birefringence liquid crystals: thiophenylacetylene and benzothiazolylacetylene derivatives

We have synthesized and evaluated the physical properties of thiophenylacetylene and benzothiazolylacetylene derivatives in order to obtain higher Δn liquid crystals as compared with analogous phenylacetylene-based compounds. These new materials had poorer liquid crystallinity than the phenylacetylene derivatives. Exchanging the phenyl ring for a benzothiazole ring was effective in increasing Δn, whereas a thiophene ring decreased Δn because of the associated reduction in the anisotropic polarizability. These conjugated hetero rings shifted the UV absorption spectra into the visible region such that they are yellow or brownish in colour.