The biaxial nematic phase was first discovered in 2004 in oxadiazole based liquid crystals.  This unique phase may allow for faster response times in device applications, making it of great interest from both fundamental and technological standpoints.   Unfortunately, the original derivatives expressed this phase only at impractically high temperatures, so efforts have been made to lower the transition temperatures.  The Scharrer lab has focused on incorporating lateral groups on the oxadiazole derivatives, which has led to a considerable reduction in the nematic onset temperatures.  This presentation will describe our continuing efforts to lower the transition temperatures.  In particular, we have prepared compounds with multiple lateral groups arranged in an unsymmetric fashion.  This has led to a low temperature nematic phase in some cases.  However, the preparation of some of the synthetic intermediates has proven problematic in that purification is extremely difficult.  Efforts to improve the synthetic route to the target compounds will be discussed along with the phase behavior of the liquid crystalline derivatives.

Oxadiazole based liquid crystals:  Phase behavior and efforts to improve the synthetic route to the target compounds

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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