The Effect of the Reversal of the Central Schiff's Base Linkage on Liquid Crystal Properties: the 4-Phenylbenzylidene-4'-n-alkoxyanilines and 4-(4'-n-Alkoxy-benzylideneamino)-biphenyls

Twelve 4-phenylbenzylidene-4'-n-alkoxyanilines have been prepared and their liquid crystal phases have been categorised. The properties of these compounds are compared with those of the analogous Schiff's bases, the 4-(4'-n-alkoxybenzylideneamino)biphenyls, in which the central imino-linkage is reversed. A structural factor that may be responsible for an unusual fan texture of the SB phase of Schiff's bases is suggested.