Structure of the liquid crystalline state in hexakis (4-(4′-alkyloxy)biphenoxy)cyclotriphosphazenes

X-ray measurements on hexakis(4-(4′-alkyloxy)biphenoxy)cyclotriphosphazenes [PN-(OC6H4C6H4OC n H2n + 1)2]3 (HACP, n = 7–9), confirm the previous mesophase identification. The apparent molecular length measured in the mesophase compares to twice the length of an alkyloxybiphenyl side group. Specific features are added to the usual features of the nematic and smectic diffraction patterns which show that the molecular arrays in directions parallel and perpendicular to the director both reflect the peculiar shape of the cyclotriphosphazenes.