Synthesis of quinoxaline–benzoxale conjugates and mesomorphic properties

A new series of non-discotic heterocyclic compounds 1a–e derived from quinoxaline was prepared and their mesomorphic properties investigated. The crystal and molecular structures of nonmesogenic 2,3-bis(3,4-didodecyloxyphenyl)quinoxaline-6-carboxylic acid 4-[(4-butoxy2-hydroxyphenylimino)methyl]phenyl ester 2a (n=4, m=12) were determined by means of X-ray structural analysis. It crystallizes in a monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with a=21.9193(13) Å, b=8.3693(4) Å, c=30.896(2) Å, and Z=4. The molecule was considered as an elongated or tapered triangle. Both inter- and intra-molecular H-bonds were observed in the crystal lattice, which was attributed to the formation of columnar mesophase in compounds 2. The mesomorphic behavior of compounds 1–2 was studied by thermal analysis and polarized optical microscopy. All compounds 1–2 exhibited hexagonal columnar phases (Colh), which were also confirmed by powder XRD diffractometer. A Ncell and Rar value equal to 4.74 and 4.34 within a slice of 9.0 Å thick were obtained for 1b and 2b, indicating that a more disc-like correlated structure by two molecules lying side-by-side was formed in Colh phases. The fluorescent properties of the compounds 1–4 in CH3Cl were also examined.