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A Schiff base supramolecular 4-[(4-(hexyloxy)phenylimino)methyl]benzoic acid and a new series of Schiff base/ester linkages named 4-substitutedphenyl 4-[(4-(hexyloxy)phenylimino)methyl]benzoate liquid crystals were synthesized. The thermal stability, mesomorphic, and optical behavior of the prepared compounds were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravemetric analysis (TGA), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and UV spectroscopy. FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and elemental analyses were carried out to elucidate and confirm the molecular structures of the synthesized compounds. The investigated series comprising different sized terminal polar groups changed between CH(CH3)2, H, I, and F. It was found that the supramolecular imino acid dimer is enantiotropic dimorphic, with a wide SmA phase and a good N phase range. The other series of terminally substituted Schiff base/esters are mesomorphic with a high thermal stable SmA phase, except the iodo derivative, which showed dimorphic SmA and N phases. The effect of the position and the orientation of the cores, as well as the terminal substituent of the type and the stability of the mesophase, were studied. A computational theoretical study of the effects of the van der Waal’s volume, the Hammett substituent coefficient, the inductive sigma constant, and other geometrical parameters were discussed. The study revealed that the planarity of the two phenyl rings attached with an imino linking group impacted the resonance effect of the terminal substituents rather than their inductive effect. A detailed study on the effect of the estimated thermal parameters, as well as their geometrical planarity with the type and stability of the formed mesophase, was discussed.

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The effects of ionizing radiation on biological cells have been reported in several literatures. Most of them were mainly concerned with doses greater than 0.01 Gy and were also concerned with gamma rays. On the other hand, the studies on very low dose fast neutrons (VLDFN) are rare. In this study, we have investigated the effects of VLDFN on cell membrane and protein secondary structure of rat erythrocytes. Twelve female Wistar rats were irradiated with neutrons of total dose 0.009 Gy (241Am-Be, 0.2 mGy/h) and twelve others were used as control. Blood samples were taken at the 0, 4th, 8th, and 12th days postirradiation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of rat erythrocytes were recorded. Second derivative and curve fitting were used to analysis FTIR spectra. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used to classify group spectra. The second derivative and curve fitting of FTIR spectra revealed that the most significant alterations in the cell membrane and protein secondary structure upon neutron irradiation were detected after 4 days postirradiation. The increase in membrane polarity, phospholipids chain length, packing, and unsaturation were noticed from the corresponding measured FTIR area ratios. This may be due to the membrane lipid peroxidation. The observed band shift in the CH2 stretching bands toward the lower frequencies may be associated with the decrease in membrane fluidity. The curve fitting of the amide I revealed an increase in the percentage area of α-helix opposing a decrease in the β-structure protein secondary structure, which may be attributed to protein denaturation. The results provide detailed insights into the VLDFN effects on erythrocytes. VLDFN can cause an oxidative stress to the irradiated erythrocytes, which appears clearly after 4 days postirradiation.