Five new π-conjugated chromophores derived from acrylic acid and acrylonitrile were synthesized and their thermal and photophysical behaviors were analyzed. They were designed and synthesized through Knoevenagel condensations between arylacetylenebenzaldehydes and a methylene group activated from cyanoacetic and malonic acids. The characterization of the target compounds was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), absorption and emission spectroscopy techniques. Arylcinnamic acids were obtained as pure E-isomers. On the other hand, arylacrylonitrile was obtained as a mixture of E/Z-isomers and the pure E-isomer was isolated in chromatographic columns. The liquid crystal properties were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. All chromophores displayed smectic and nematic mesophases. These materials displayed intense fluorescence under UV-Vis light excitation. The maximum absorption peaks were observed between 342-356 nm while emission varied from 428 to 460 nm in chloroform solution. Higher values for the quantum fluorescence yield were associated with acrylic acids compared to arylacrylonitriles. The solvatochromism studies of the materials showed a significant increase in the red-shift of the fluorescence spectra as the polarity of the solvent increased. In some cases, a variation in the emission wavelength from the blue to the green region of the spectrum was observed.

Coumarins are a large class of compounds that display a range of interesting biological properties, being considered privileged structures because of the ability of their 2H-chromen-2-one nuclei to bind to multiple pharmacological targets. We hypothesized that the linkage of a second pharmacophore nucleus to the 2H-chromen-2-one core, the 1,2,3-triazole moiety, would entail more selective and pharmacologically active coumarins. Therefore, we describe the synthesis of fourteen 4-methylcoumarins/1,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazole conjugates, which were predicted by in silico methods to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and proved to be moderate in vitro inhibitors of this enzyme. Molecular docking simulations suggest that the most active of these compounds has a putative binding mode similar to donepezil, both occupying the peripheral anionic site of AChE, which is associated with the secondary noncholinergic functions of the enzyme. This highlights the potential of this series for further optimization in the search of new coumarins for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction is a powerful tool for the cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to olefins, and this reaction is of considerable interest to obtain isoxazolines. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to study the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction mechanism that initially occurs between benzonitrile oxide and vinylacetic acid to yield a bicyclo, from successive cycloadditions. PBE1PBE, B3LYP and CAM-B3LYP functionals were used together with 6-311+G(2d,p) basis set. CCSD(T)/6-311+G(2d,p) calculations were done to compare the DFT energy barriers. The solvent effects were included using polarizable continuum model (PCM), with three different solvents. In the first cycloaddition, only the 3,5-regioisomer is expected. In the gas phase, the β face attack, that originates the trans-bicyclo, is slightly favored, but the cis-bicyclo is considerably more stable. However, the α face attack was favored with solvent effects. The PBE1PBE functional gives the closest activation energies and reaction energies to CCSD(T). The inclusion of solvent effects changes the preferential rotamer in each cycloaddition.

Condensation reactions of glycerol with aldehydes and ketones were performed under thermal heating and microwave irradiation regimes. Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts were tested in both conditions. A silica sulfated (SiO2-SO3H) heterogeneous catalyst demonstrated the best performance relative to a selectivity of >95% in favor of 5-membered ketals. For acetals, preference in favor of 5-membered or 6-membered functional groups depends on the nature of the catalyst. Homogenous catalysts favor the more stable 6-membered acetals, whereas heterogeneous catalysts favor the less stable 5-membered acetals. However, the isomer ratios in the acetalization reaction are too low, and hence the reaction cannot be used in a synthetic plan for functional materials. Ketalization processes mediated by SiO2-SO3H show a high selectivity in favor of a 5-membered ring (1,3-dioxolane). The scope of condensation was tested with different ketones. A mechanism for heterogeneous catalysis related to the selectivity in the cyclization process is presented herein. Solketal, a commercial product, was also obtained by a condensation reaction of glycerol and propanone, and showed a high selectivity in favor of 1,3-dioxolane. It was transformed to potential allylic and chiral intermediates. A mesogenic core was connected to the organic framework of glycerol to produce a monomer liquid crystal material with a stable smectic-C mesophase.

The synthesis of five quinolines 8-octyloxy-4-[4-(octyloxy)phenyl]quinoline and 6-alkoxy- 2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-4-[(4-octyloxy)aryl]quinolines are described by three-component coupling reaction mediated by Lewis acid FeCl3 and Yb(OTf)3. 4-n-octyloxybenzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, 4-n-octyloxyaniline p-anisidine, and 1-ethynyl-4-heptyloxybenzene, 1-ethynyl-4-octyloxybenzene and 2-ethynyl-6-heptyloxynaphthalene are the reagents in this protocol. A Yb3+ catalyst resulted in higher yields of quinolines than Fe3+. Polarizing optical microscopy (POM) revealed that none of the quinolines were liquid crystals, even the more anisotropic. UV-Vis measurements of one of the quinolines in polar solvent show two absorption bands at 280 and 350 nm related to π,π* and n,π* transitions. No changes were observed to lower-energy absorption band (ε < 104 mol L-1 cm-1) related to n,π* transition. A laser flash photolysis study for one of the quinolines relates a main transient band at 450 nm with a lifetime of 2.6 µs in ethanol, which is completely quenched in the presence of oxygen. This transient band was assigned to triplet-triplet absorption of one of the quinolines, which is semi-oxidised in the presence of phenol. Radiative rate constants have been determined along singlet and triplet excited state energies (3.39 and 3.10 eV, respectively). The chemical structure of one of the quinolines was also unequivocally confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis.

Uma nova família de ésteres tiazolínicos e tiazóis foram sintetizados e as propriedades térmicas são apresentadas e discutidas. Os ésteres tiazolínicos foram obtidos pela reação de ciclização de benzonitrilas 4-substituídas com o amino ácido L-cisteína seguido da reação de esterificação com álcoois e fenol previamente selecionados. A oxidação dos ésteres tiazolínicos mediado pelo reagente BrCCl3/DBU permitiu a transformação dos respectivos ésteres tiazolínicos em ésteres tiazóis . Os compostos finais dos ésteres tiazolínicos e tiazóis são formados por cadeias alquílicas, (perfluoroalquil)alquílicas e p-alcoxifenilas. Alguns cristais líquidos mostraram serem mais relevantes. Um deles apresentou mesofase esmética A (SmA) monotrópica enquanto que outros apresentaram mesofase estável SmA. Como esperado, as cadeias de alcanos semifluorados induziram a formação de mesofase ortogonal via efeito de segregação.

A new family of thiazoline and thiazole esters has been synthesized and their thermal properties are presented and discussed. Thiazoline esters were obtained by cyclization reaction from 4-substituted benzenenitrile and amino acid L-cysteine followed by esterification reaction with selected alcohols and phenol. Subsequent oxidation step to transform thiazoline esters into thiazole esters was applied mediated by BrCCl3/DBU. The final thiazoline and thiazole esters are composed by terminal flexible hydrogenated alkyl chain from one side and to the other side by terminal segments of flexible alkyl chains (hydrogenated chain), (perfluoralkyl)alkyl chains (semifluorinated alkane) p-alkoxyphenyl chains. Some liquid crystals compounds for thiazoline and thiazole esters showed to be relevant. One of the thiazoline esters display a monotropic smectic A (SmA) mesophase while some thiazole esters show stable SmA mesophase. As expected semifluorinated alkane chain induce the formation of orthogonal mesophase by means of segregation effect.

A síntese e o comportamento de fase de três novos polímeros cristais líquidos de cadeia lateral são descritos. Os novos polímeros apresentaram mesofase esmética C (SmC). O estudo de raios X para duas amostras revelou parcial interdigitação para a mesofase SmC do polímero com espaçador mais curto, enquanto que com espaçador mais longo o polímero não apresentou interdigitação.

The synthesis and phase behavior of three new side-chain liquid crystal polymers with short and long flexible alkyl spacers are described. These new materials show smectic C (SmC) mesophase. X-ray analysis for two samples has revealed that SmC mesophase displays partial interdigitation for the polymer with short flexible spacer, while for long flexible spacer polymer no interdigitation was observed.

Uma série de cristais líquidos derivados de ésteres arilaldoximas foi sintetizada e caracterizada via espectroscopia de ¹H, 13C RMN, ATR/IV-FT e análise elementar. A estabilidade química e fotofísica desses compostos foram dependentes dos ciclos de aquecimento e resfriamento, com a decomposição sendo induzida pelo calor. As mudanças nas propriedades durante os ciclos de aquecimento foram acompanhadas através dos respectivos espectros de infravermelho. Todas as amostras se decompõem termicamente, gerando as respectivas nitrilas e ácidos carboxílicos como evidenciado pelos espectros de infravermelho e de ¹H NMR. As propriedades mesomórficas foram avaliadas apenas no primeiro ciclo de aquecimento, devido à decomposição térmica observada após a primeira transição para o estado isotrópico. Espectros de absorção em solventes orgânicos apresentam três bandas entre 230 e 340 nm, e uma banda de emissão, larga e sem estrutura, em 430 nm. Cálculos teóricos ab initio foram realizados para a obtenção de informações estruturais dos ésteres arilaldoximas.

We report the synthesis of a series of liquid-crystalline materials based on arylaldoxime esters and the characterization of these materials by ¹H, 13C NMR, ATR/FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The chemical stability and liquid-crystalline as well as photophysical properties of the compounds are described being dependent on the heating/cooling cycles. The changes in chemical stability and the liquid crystals properties of arylaldoxime esters were observed during these thermal cycles by IR analysis. All samples underwent a thermal degradation yielding the corresponding nitriles and carboxylic acid as evidenced by IR and ¹H NMR spectra. Due to the decomposition process, information about the mesomorphic behaviour is lost. The UV-Vis absorption spectra in solution display three absorption bands between 230 and 340 nm. The fluorescence spectra exhibit a broad and structureless emission band located at 430 nm. Ab initio calculations were performed to obtain information on the molecular structure and properties of the title compounds.

Five monomers 5-[4-(5-cyano-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-3-yl)phenoxy]undecyl acrylate (7a); n-alkyl 3-{4-[5-(acryloyloxyundecyl)oxyphenyl]}-4,5-dihydroisoxazole-5-carboxylate (7b,c for n-butyl and n-hexyl, respectively); 3-{4-[5-(acryloyloxyundecyl) oxyphenyl]}-4,5-dihydroisoxazole-5-carboxylic acid (7d) and (1R,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl acrylate (9) and the corresponding copolymers 10a-d,11 and homopolymers 12 from 7a and 13 from 9 were designed and synthesized. Except for acrylate 9 which is derived from (-)-menthol, all of the monomers belong to the series containing the isoxazoline ring linked to the acrylate unit by a flexible spacer chain of eleven methylene units. They presented low glass temperature and despite birefringence behavior, these copolymers showed no mesomorphic properties.

Uma série de calcogeno ésteres, 1a, 6a e 6b foi obtida em uma rota sintética conveniente. A análise de microscopia óptica de luz polarizada (POM) e calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC) mostrou que estes calcogeno ésteres apresentam uma ampla faixa de mesofase nemática. Além disso, espectros de absorção na região do UV-Vis em solução (ca.10-5 mol L-1) também foram obtidos de maneira a se obter a diferença de energia entre os orbitais moleculares HOMO-LUMO, para posterior comparação com os resultados teóricos. Os valores calculados para o gap de HOMO-LUMO estão de acordo com os valores experimentais obtidos, onde a eletronegatividade do heteroátomo (O, S e Se) deve ser o principal fator para a localização do máximo de absorção. Um estudo teórico foi realizado utilizando cálculos de DFT/B3LYP com método híbrido de Becke aplicando uma correlação funcional de Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) com a base DGDZVP a fim de avaliar algumas propriedades físico-químicas relacionadas com o mesomorfismo e as propriedades eletrônicas espectrais. Através da síntese destes compostos, a influência do átomo de calcogênio nas propriedades fotofísicas e mesomórficas pôde ser avaliada de uma forma mais precisa.

A series of chalcogeno esters 1a, 6a and 6b have been synthesized in a straightforward manner. Polarized-light optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that these chalcogeno esters displayed a wide nematic range of mesophase. In addition, UV-Vis in solution (ca.10-5 mol L-1) was applied in order to obtain the HOMO-LUMO gap for further comparison with the theoretical results. The calculated values to the HOMO-LUMO gap are in excellent agreement with the experimental results, where the electronegativity of the heteroatom (O, S and Se) seems to play a fundamental role in the absorption maxima location. A theoretical study was performed using a DFT/B3LYP calculations with Becke's three-parameter hybrid method applying the Lee-Yang-Parr functional correlation (B3LYP) with DGDZVP basis set in order to evaluate some physical chemistry data related with mesomorphic and spectral eletronic properties. By synthesizing these compounds we were able to get a more precise description about the influence of the chalcogen atom on the mesomorphic and photophysical properties.

A síntese de uma plataforma molecular para materiais líquido-cristalinos derivados do ácido 3-arilisoxazolil-5-carboxílico (1) e do 5-(hidroximetil)-3-aril-2-isoxazolina (2) é descrita. Os intermediários 1 e 2 são obtidos através da reação de cicloadição [3+2] 1,3-dipolar entre arilóxidos de nitrilas e os dipolarófilos ácido acrílico e álcool alílico, respectivamente. Os compostos cristais líquidos são sintetizados através de uma estratégia de alongamento molecular do núcleo primitivo isoxazolínico pela conexão de subunidades arilacetilênicas, as quais foram obtidas da reação de Sonogashira. Sob essas condições, séries de cristais líquidos 5a-c, 6, 7a-g e 8a-d têm sido sintetizadas com rendimentos de médios para bons. Os compostos finais apresentam propriedades líquido-cristalinas nematogênica e esmectogênica. Um cálculo DFT no nível B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) é também apresentado e alguns parâmetros estruturais obtidos são analisados.

The synthesis of the molecular platform for liquid-crystalline materials based on 3-arylisoxazolyl-5-carboxylic acid (1) and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-3-aryl-2-isoxazoline (2) is described. The key intermediates 1 and 2 are obtained by [3+2] 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction between an arylnitrile oxide and an acrylic acid and allylic alcohol as the dipolarophile. The liquid crystals (LC) compounds are synthesized through a "molecular elongation strategy" from the initial isoxazolinic core by connecting the arylacetylene moiety obtained from the Sonogashira reaction. Under these conditions, the series of liquid crystals 5a-c, 6, 7a-g and 8a-d have been successfully synthesized in fair to good yields. The final compounds display nematic and smectic liquid-crystalline properties. The structural properties of the series of the liquid crystals has been studied using DFT methods at level B3LYP/6-31G(d,p). The equilibrium geometries in the gas phase are presented and analyzed.

A síntese e a caracterização de dois cristais líquidos poliacrilatos, de cadeia lateral contendo o sistema bifenil-fenila como unidade central são descritos. A cadeia terminal é derivada da L-isoleucina. Em cada caso, o espaçador undecila foi utilizado para conectar o grupo mesogênico e a cadeia polimérica. Ambos os polímeros apresentaram mesofase esmética A. Encontrou-se uma dependência entre as propriedades transicionais e parâmetros estruturais, tais como, flexibilidade da cadeia polimérica e conectividade da cadeia terminal quiral.

The synthesis and characterization of two chiral side-chain liquid crystal based on polyacrylates having a biphenyl-phenyl system as a core unit are described. The chiral terminal chain is derived from L-isoleucine. In each case an undecyl spacer was used to connect the mesogenic group to the backbone. Smectic A phase was found for both polymers. The transitional properties were dependent on structural parameters such as backbone flexibility and chiral terminal chain connectivity.

A influência da estrutura química dos grupos mesogênicos e do tamanho dos grupos espaçadores, no comportamento de fase de uma série de cristais líquidos poliméricos de cadeia lateral (SCLCP), foram estudados utilizando-se espalhamento de raios-X a Baixo Ângulo (SAXS) e Microscopia Ótica de Luz Polarizada (POM). Análises do arranjo das mesofases em amostras não orientadas e orientadas por ação do campo magnético são descritas. O papel do tamanho do espaçador lateral no empacotamento local e na largura da camada esmética determinados nas mesofases SmA e SmC é elucidado. Os ângulos teta formados entre os grupos mesogênicos e a normal às camadas nas mesofases SmC foram determinados. Um estudo a respeito do grau de ordem em função da temperatura, para os polímeros esméticos foi possível através de medidas de SAXS. Uma ordenação particular em um dos SCLCPs estudados é relacionada com a coexistência de duas fases distintas.

The influence of the chemical structure of the mesogenic groups and the length of the spacer groups on the phase behavior in a series of side-chain liquid crystalline polyacrylates (SCLCP) have been studied using Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM). Analyses of the mesophase arrangement in unaligned and aligned samples by magnetic field are reported. The role of the spacer length on the local packing and on the thickness of the layers encountered in the SmA and SmC mesophases is elucidated. The tilt angles theta of the mesogenic cores related to the normal of the layers in the SmC mesophases are measured. A study about the degree of order as a function of temperature for the smectic polymers was possible using SAXS measurements. A particular arrangement in one of the studied SCLCPs is related to the coexistence of two different phases.

Synthetic manipulations were carried out with the aim of obtaining an advanced linear fragment for production of thermotropic liquid crystals. The chiral fragment synthesised was introduced in a tolanbenzoate mesogenic core by coupling of Sonogashira. The final chiral tolans showed smectic A and C and nematic liquid crystalline phases. The crystallographic structure of lactone from (-) menthone is presented.

Synthetic methods used for the synthesis of the Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals (FLCs) will be considered with emphasis on the chiral synthesis methodologies and mesomorphic electrooptical properties.