10.1016/S0040-4039(01)00245-3
The research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of a novel three-armed discotic liquid crystal (LC), which is the first star-shaped molecule to exhibit a discotic nematic phase. The purpose of the study was to create a molecule with reduced inter-core interaction, which is necessary for the formation of a nematic phase rather than the more common columnar phase in discotic LCs. The researchers synthesized a molecule based on 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene as the core and 2,5-diphenyloxadiazole as rigid arms. The conclusions drawn from the research were that the unique molecular shape of compound 5, with its long rigid arms and small nonpolar core, contributed to the formation of a discotic nematic assembly rather than a columnar stacking, marking a significant advancement in the field of discotic liquid crystals.