Induced Smectic Phases from Supramolecular H-Bonded Complexes Based on Non-Mesomorphic Components

New non-symmetrical 1:1 supramolecular H-bonded (SMHB) interactions, Ix/II, were designed between the non-mesomorphic fatty acids (palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids) and 4-tetradecyloxyphenylazo pyridine. Mesophase behaviors of the formed complexes were examined via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). In order to confirm the H-bond interaction formations within the prepared SMHB complexes, FT-IR spectroscopy was established whereby Fermi bands confirm these interactions. Mesomorphic investigations for all complexes indicated that, independent of the terminal alkenyl chains of the natural acids, induced dimorphic smectic phases were observed. The stability of formed mesophases was found to depend on the degree of un-saturation of the terminal alkenyl group of acid component.