From Laterally Branched Mesogens to Novel Twin Molecules. Part II

Abstract
New liquid crystalline compounds with lateral branches are presented which are the link between lateral branched compounds and twins. The influence of the linking spacer on the clearing temperatures is investigated by systematic variation of the chemical structure of the spacer. The new compounds deviate strongly from the classical model of the rod-like molecules. The existing molecular-statistical theories fail to explain their mesogenic behaviour.