Diphenylthiophenes as central part for the design of bent-core liquid crystalline compounds

New type of bent-core molecules based on the 2,5-diphenylthiophene and 3,4-diphenylthiophene central cores have been synthesized as potential liquid crystalline compounds. We have varied non-linear 2,5-diphenylthiophene molecular core as a potential source of central unit of bent-core mesogens and for the first time introduced 3,4-diphenylthiophene central core in the design of V-shaped liquid crystals. Unfortunately, no mesogenicity has been observed for the 3,4-diphenylthiophene-based compounds. The effect of the lateral substitution on the central thiophene in 2,5-diphenylthiophene derivatives has been investigated. We have succeeded in substantial decrease of transition temperatures and the nematic phase has been observed for several compounds.