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.
arylaldoxime esters; liquid crystals; infra-red analysis; isoxazolines
