Mesomorphic Transition Temperatures and Viscosities for Some Cyano-biphenyls and -p-terphenyls with Branched Terminal Alkyl Groups

A number of 4-alkyl- and 4-alkoxy-4′-cyanobiphenyls and 4-alkyl-4”-cyano-p-terphenyls with branched chains have been prepared. Marked depressions in the Liquid crystal transition temperatures have been observed relative to those for the corresponding n-alkyl derivatives, although the melting points are affected to a smaller extent. The viscosities of 10 wt% solutions of the individual branched-chain materials in the commercial mixture E7 have been determined at 0°C and 25°C and substantial increases in the measured bulk viscosities have been recorded.