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Synthesis And Investigation Of The Liquid Crystalline Properties Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Joseph A. Paquette

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this thesis, the synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of a series of novel substituted dibenz[a,c]anthracenes is reported. Specifically, a series of hexaalkoxydibenz[a,c]anthracenes were prepared and found not to exhibit a mesophase. In contrast, when substituents are introduced on the aromatic core, columnar mesophases are observed over broad temperature ranges. A series substituted derivatives was prepared and their mesomorphic properties compared. In general, electron-withdrawing substituents promote broad mesophase temperature ranges, as do larger substituents. The liquid crystalline phase is a result of the electronic effects, size and shape of the substituents in the 10 and 13 positions.

We also synthesized …