Liquid crystalline naphthyl derivatives with bromoalkoxy tail: Photophysical behavior and DFT studies

• Published in: Journal of molecular structure Vol. 1293; p. 136252
• Main Authors: Rabari, Mahima, Kumar CH, Ravi Shankar, Prajapati, A.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.12.2023
• Subjects: Bromoalkoxy tail; DFT; Naphthalene; Optical properties; Photoisomerization; Refractive index; Naphthalene; DFT; Bromoalkoxy tail; Photoisomerization; Refractive index; Optical properties
• ISSN: 0022-2860; 1872-8014
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2023.136252

•Synthesis of new series of azo naphthyl derivatives with bromoalkoxy tail.•DSC and POM techniques were used to examine liquid crystalline properties.•4e shows reversible photoisomerization, makes it suitable for optoelectronics.•Determination of refractive index and dielectric constant for optical properties.•Theoretical models aid in identifying excellent mesogenic dielectric materials. One new homologous series of mesogenic bromoalkoxy terminated naphthyl derivatives containing flexible spacers as well as azo and ether linkages was synthesized by the etherification of an azo dye (E)-4-(naphthalen-2-yldiazenyl) phenol with various α, ω-dibromo-alkanes, respectively. Compounds in the present work were convinced with respective right structures confirmed with various spectroscopic techniques. Thermotropic properties of the compounds were investigated. Among all the compounds, compounds with flexible spacer (n = 4, 5, 6) exhibited excellent liquid crystalline nature. Structure–property relationships, the influence of different flexible spacers, the mesophase ranges and the photo-isomerization of liquid crystalline compounds were studied. The photophysical behavior was gained by UV–visible spectroscopy and optical properties were determined with a spectroscopic ellipsometer. Computational studies of all molecular structures were performed with satisfactory explanation to attribute mesogenic and optical properties. It's worth noting that synthesized mesogenic materials are excellent dielectrics making them suitable for electronic and industrial applications, as well as having a suitable refractive index making them suitable for light-guiding phenomena. [Display omitted]