Dissecting terminal fluorinated regulator of liquid crystals for fine-tuning intermolecular interaction and molecular configuration

Intermolecular interaction and molecular configuration are of great importance to the formation of liquid crystals (LCs). In this study, we have designed a fluorinated regulator at the end of LC molecules to investigate mesomorphic properties. Dissecting the terminal fluorinated regulator shows 4-fl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of molecular liquids 2020-07, Vol.310, p.113225, Article 113225
Main Authors: Zhu, Shengbo, Chen, Ran, Zhang, Wenzhi, Niu, Xiaoling, Chen, Weixing, Mo, Lingchao, Hu, Minggang, Zhang, Lu, Li, Jian, Chen, Xinbing, An, Zhongwei
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Fluorination
Intermolecular interaction
Liquid crystals
Molecular configuration
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Summary:Intermolecular interaction and molecular configuration are of great importance to the formation of liquid crystals (LCs). In this study, we have designed a fluorinated regulator at the end of LC molecules to investigate mesomorphic properties. Dissecting the terminal fluorinated regulator shows 4-fluoro substituent with a polar effect could promote dipole-dipole interaction, 2,6-difluoro substituent with a twist effect could facilitate steric molecular configuration, while 3,5-difluoro substituent with twist & polar effects could regulate not only molecular configuration and π-π interaction but also dipole-dipole interaction. From the independent and joint effects of the three regulating positions, it is concluded that intermolecular interactions (i.e., dipole-dipole interaction, π-π interaction and perfluoroarene-arene interaction) and molecular configuration can be effectively fine-tuned by the degree and pattern of fluorination. In addition, their thermal stabilities are evaluated systematically. These results will provide a further insight into LC molecule design. [Display omitted] •Realizing the tunability of LC properties by a terminal fluorinated regulator.•Dissecting the perfluorinated regulator for studying the mesomorphic properties.•Relationship between terminal fluorination and intermolecular interaction.•Relationship between terminal fluorination and molecular configuration.•Independent/joint effect of fluoro substituents on mesomorphic properties.
ISSN:0167-7322
1873-3166
DOI:10.1016/j.molliq.2020.113225