A Chiral Mesogenic Compound

Single-crystal X-ray analysis has been carried out for 4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4-heptyloxytolane-4'-carboxylate [C7-tolane, C₃₇H₄₄O₅, tolane = 1,1'-(1,2-ethynediyl)bisbenzene]. The crystal has a smectic C-like layer structure composed of largely bent molecules; the chain of the chiral group is quasi-perpendicular (86°) to the core moiety. The molecular arrangement is similar to that of 4-[(S)-1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl]phenyl-4'-octyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate and agrees with the data of the n = 8 homologue (C8-tolane) antiferroelectric mesophase.

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