To explore the possibility of liquid crystal formation based on twisted substituted biphenyl moiety, dinonanyl-2,2'-dinitro-4,4'-dibromobiphenyl-6,6'-dicarboxylate and 2,2'-dinitro-4,4'-dibromo-6'-carbononanoxybiphenyl-6-carboxylic acid were prepared. Coupling of methyl 2-iodo-3-nitro-5-bromobenzoate with copper powder gave dimethyl 2,2'-dinitro-4,4'-dibromobiphenyl-6,6'-dicarboxylate. After hydrolysis the acid was converted to acid chloride and the esters were obtained by reacting with nonanyl alcohol in pyridine.
Examination of these compounds on the hot stage polarizing microscope did not show any textures of liquid crystal. DSC curve also confirmed the above result.
