Synthesis of liquid crystals 1–4: (i) 3,4,5-tridodecyloxybenzyl chloride, K2CO3, DMF; (ii) 4-bromoanisole, Mg, THF; (iii) phenol, methanesulfonic acid; (iv) BBr3, CH2Cl2.
Synthesis of liquid crystals 5–7: (i) 4-bromoanisole, Mg, THF; (ii) phenol, methanesulfonic acid; (iii) BBr3, CH2Cl2; (iv) 3,4,5-tridodecyloxybenzyl chloride, K2CO3, DMF.