Three aryl esters containing diaza-18-crown-6 units (I, II and III), were synthesized and shown to display nematic liquid crystalline properties. The effect of the mol. structure on liquid crystalline properties was studied. Whether crown-ether liquid crystal II doped with inorganic salt would display liquid crystalline properties depend upon the structure of the anions, regardless of the nature of the cations. The effect of the amount of doping inorganic salt on the clear point was also studied.

Key words: MOLECULAR STRUCTURE, LIQUID CRYSTAL, NITROGEN HETEROCYCLICS, CROWN ETHER COMPOUNDS