SYNTHESIS AND LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE BEHAVIOR OF A SERIES OF FERROCENE 1,1'-BIS-AZINO-DERIVATIVES

A series of liquid-crystalline ferrocene derivatives, Fe{C5H4-C(CH3)=N-N=CH-C6H3(X)-OOC-C6H4-OCnH2n+1}(2) (X = H, OH; n = 3 to 12), were obtained by the condensation of 1,1'-bishydrazondiacetylferrocene with p-alkoxybenzoyloxybenzaldehides. According to DSC and polythermic microscopy, all of the compounds exhibit an enantiotropic nematic mesophase in the 150-230 degrees C temperature range. A polycrystalline transition precedes the nematic transition. The liquid crystalline properties of the obtained compounds were investigated with respect to the number of carbon atoms in the terminal alkyl chain and the terminal hydroxyl group. The composition and structure of the obtained compounds were determined by elemental analysis and IR and NMR spectroscopy.