N,N′-Dialkyl-1,4-benzenedicarboxamides melt with anomalously small enthalpy changes. The 1,3-analogs behave similarly but at lower temperatures. These observations provide a clue to design novel mesomorphic compounds; N,N′,N″-trialkyl-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamides. The compounds carrying pentyl to octadecyl groups melt at temperatures between 49 and 119 °C depending upon the alkyl chain length. The clearing points are located above 200 °C. The unoriented liquid crystals show X-ray diffraction patterns consisting of two major peaks. The inner sharp peak gives a spacing, which increases as the series is ascended, from 1.40 to 2.26 nm. The outer one is sharp in the pentyl and hexyl derivatives but diffuse in the higher homologous members. The second moments of the broad-line proton NMR spectra measured above the melting points are as small as a few hundredths G2 and firmly establish the liquid-like characteristics of the alkyl chains.

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ChemInform Abstract (III) (comparative investigations of (I) and (II)).

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