Alkyloxy groups, terminal substituents

Lattermann found that the sixfold symmetry is not important for the presence of columnar mesophases in [14]-N4 when appropriate peripheral groups are chosen [105]. As substituents with one terminal alkyl (88a-d) chain and with three terminal alkyl chains (88e) are not able to induce liquid crystalline behavior in 88 (Table 5) [104], a substituent with two alkyl chains, namely 3,4-bis(alkyloxy) benzoyl, was chosen since it has been known to induce liquid crystalline phases in other systems. A mesophase (most likely Colh due to the texture) was observed between 96 and 132 °C for 90 (Scheme 44). 

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