Thermotropic liquid crystalline amphiphilic materials with hydrophilic groups at both terminals

We synthesized thermotropic amphiphilic mesogens with hydrophilic groups at both terminals through the reaction of 2-hydroxyethylamine with ω-bromo-1-(4-(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenylazo)phenoxy)alkylamine. We examined the thermal and orientational properties of these mesogens. The mesogens formed fluid smectic phases due to interactions between the hydrophilic units. On heating a thermotropic amphiphilic mesogen (HE-6-OH) with a hexamethylene spacer chain, smectic A and C phases were formed. On cooling, HE-6-OH exhibited a smectic F phase and a G state in addition to smectic A and C phases. Further, the thermotropic amphiphilic mesogen with a dodecamethylene spacer chain showed smectic A and F phases on heating and cooling.