Nematogenic Behaviour of a Cyano-Compound Using Quantum Mechanics and Computer Simulations

Abstract

Using quantum mechanics and intermolecular forces, the molecular ordering of a nematogenic cya-no-compound, 5-(frans-4-ethylcyclohexyl)-2-(4-cyanophenyl)-pyrimidine (ECCPP), has been exam­ ined. The CNDO/2 method has been employed to evaluate the net atomic charge and the dipole mo­ ment components at each atomic centre of the molecule. The configuration energy has been computed using the modified Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation method at intervals of 1Ä in translation and 10P in rotations, and corresponding probabilities have been calculated using Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics. The flexibility of various configurations has been studied in terms of the variation of the probability due to small departures from the most probable configuration. All possible geometrical arrangements between a molecular pair have been considered during stacking, in-plane and terminal interactions, and the most favourable configuration of pairing has been obtained. An attempt has been made to under­ stand the behaviour of the molecules in terms of their relative order. The results have been compared with those obtained for other nematogens like DPAB [4,4'-di-n-propoxy-azoxybenzene] and EMBAC [ethyl 4-(4'-methoxybenzylidene amino) cinnamate].