On the Photophysical Properties of a Liquid Crystal Dimer Based on 4-Nitrostilbene: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

A new liquid crystal dimer, 1,12-bis(4-(2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethenyl)phenoxy)dodecane, was synthesized and structurally characterized. The compound exhibited enantiotropic nematic phase. The spectroscopic properties were analysed by UV-Vis and fluorescence techniques. Theoretical calculations were used to predict the UV-Vis spectral properties of three isomers and propose a mechanism of conversion between them. The obtained results present a solid basis for the future studies on the stilbene-based liquid crystal dimers, thus affording guidelines for development of a structure-property relationship of these compounds. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.