title: Non-symmetric liquid crystal dimer containing a carbohydrate-based moiety.
abstract: The synthesis and characterisation of a novel non-symmetric liquid crystal dimer, 1-[3-O-(D-glucopyranos-3-yl)]-8-[(4-methoxyazobenzene-4'-oxy)]octane is reported. This exhibits glassy behaviour and a highly interdigitated smectic A phase in which the aromatic and alkyl structural fragments overlap. Variable temperature infrared spectroscopy reveals that the strength and extent of hydrogen bonding within the system does not show a marked change at either the glass transition or at the smectic A-isotropic transition. This observation indicates that the smectic A-isotropic transition is driven by changes in the van der Waals interactions between the molecules while hydrogen bonded aggregates persist into the isotropic phase.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural and Computing Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Meston Walk, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wardell
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Seddon
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Felipe
authors.forename: Corrie T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Imrie
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D019281:Dimerization; D005947:Glucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D002241:Carbohydrates; D005947:Glucose