Effects of molecular configuration of a chiral trimeric phenylene vinylene on its liquid crystalline properties

Chiral trimeric phenylene vinylene derivatives (ChTPV) with trans-cis and trans-trans configurations were obtained using a Witting coupling reaction following by refluxing in toluene with iodine as a catalyst. Two isomers of ChTPV showed different thermal properties, and the ChTPV with a trans-trans configuration showed the typical liquid-crystalline texture of the smectic A in the heating process.