Expected and unexpected behavior of the orientational order and dynamics induced by azobenzene solutes in a nematic.

We have explored the changes in the phase stability, orientational order, and dynamics of the nematic 4-cyano-4'-n-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) doped with either the trans or the cis form of different p-azobenzene derivatives using the ESR spin-probe technique. In particular, we have studied the effects induced by each of the seven nonmesogenic 4-R-phenylazobenzenes (R = H, F, Br, CH3, CF3, On-Bu, Ot-Bu) at 1% and 7% mole fraction on the order parameter and on the shift of the nematic-isotropic transition temperature (TNI), as reported by a nitroxide spin probe, and we have tried to relate them to the solute shape and charge distribution. In all the cases the presence of the azo-derivative causes a depression of T(NI), more pronounced for the cis isomers. The dependence of on the reduced temperature T* = T/T(NI) remains the same as that of pure 5CB in all trans-doped samples at 1% and 7% and decreases only slightly in the cis at 1%. However, we observe different and in some cases large variations (up to 25%) in for the cis at 7%, showing solute effects that go beyond the shift in T(NI). Surprisingly enough, even at the highest concentration, the probe dynamics appears to be essentially independent of the nature, the configuration, and the concentration of the different solutes and very similar to that observed in the pure 5CB.

On the utility of the azido transfer protocol: synthesis of 2- and 5-azido N-methylimidazoles, 1,3-thiazoles and N-methylpyrazole and their conversion to triazole-azole bisheteroaryls.

The azido transfer procedure of heteroaryllithium and tosyl azide was used to synthesize selected 2- and 5-azidoazoles. This procedure, which is based on the fragmentation of the appropriate lithium triazene salts 1a-7a, successfully afforded 2-azido-N-methylimidazole 1, 2-azido-1,3-thiazole 2, 2-azidobenzo-1,3-thiazole 3, 5-azido-N-methylpyrazole 4, 5-azido-N-methylimidazole 6[via 2-(trimethylsilyl)-5-azido-N-methylimidazole 5], and 5-azido-1,3-thiazole 7 (via 5-lithio-1,3-thiazole), but attempts to prepare 5-azido-2-(trimethylsilyl)-1,3-thiazole 8 from the corresponding triazene 7a failed, affording only the desilylated azide in poor yield. Azides - underwent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition when mixed with neat (trimethylsilyl)acetylene, giving 1-heteroaryl-4-trimethylsilyl-1,2,3-triazoles 1b-7b generally in very high yields.