Murray State University
Analyses of Stilbene and Bipyridine Derivatives for Liquid Crystalline Phase Formation and Structure of the Resulting Mesophases
Institution
Murray State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Rachel Allenbaugh
Abstract
Liquid crystalline materials have become common in the daily lives of many individuals as components in televisions, computer screens, and digital displays. The careful design of these materials at a molecular level determines structure and allows for control of macroscale properties, like how effectively the material acts in a television display. This project is part of a larger effort to determine how metal centers can be utilized to direct formation of specific liquid crystalline architectures. Preliminarily, this research focuses on a series of stilbene and bipyridine derivatives functionalized with long alkyl chains. The syntheses and purification, as well as 1H NMR and IR analyses of compounds, will be discussed. The molecules are extremely similar in overall size and shape, differing mainly by the linkage between the two long, symmetrical halves. The stilbene derivatives have central double bonds, making them much more rigid in comparison to the central single bond of the bipyridine derivatives. Analyses of these two types of species via polarized optical microscopy (POM), and thermal methods will be presented. POM is a highly effective method of structural characterization that utilizes the interaction of polarized light with liquid crystalline materials to produce distinguishable patterns. These colorful patterns are a characteristic result of the structure of the liquid crystalline phase. This research will be vital to future preparation of more complex liquid crystalline architectures from these basic building blocks.
Analyses of Stilbene and Bipyridine Derivatives for Liquid Crystalline Phase Formation and Structure of the Resulting Mesophases
Liquid crystalline materials have become common in the daily lives of many individuals as components in televisions, computer screens, and digital displays. The careful design of these materials at a molecular level determines structure and allows for control of macroscale properties, like how effectively the material acts in a television display. This project is part of a larger effort to determine how metal centers can be utilized to direct formation of specific liquid crystalline architectures. Preliminarily, this research focuses on a series of stilbene and bipyridine derivatives functionalized with long alkyl chains. The syntheses and purification, as well as 1H NMR and IR analyses of compounds, will be discussed. The molecules are extremely similar in overall size and shape, differing mainly by the linkage between the two long, symmetrical halves. The stilbene derivatives have central double bonds, making them much more rigid in comparison to the central single bond of the bipyridine derivatives. Analyses of these two types of species via polarized optical microscopy (POM), and thermal methods will be presented. POM is a highly effective method of structural characterization that utilizes the interaction of polarized light with liquid crystalline materials to produce distinguishable patterns. These colorful patterns are a characteristic result of the structure of the liquid crystalline phase. This research will be vital to future preparation of more complex liquid crystalline architectures from these basic building blocks.