The synthesis and physical evaluation of 5-alkoxy-1,3-thiazoles prepared via Lawesson's reagent-mediated cyclisation of α-benzamido esters

The synthesis of the first series of 5-alkoxy-1,3-thiazole-based liquid crystals is reported. The aforementioned liquid crystals were synthesised through a Lawesson's reagent-mediated cyclisation of appropriate α-benzamido esters. This methodology was found to be highly efficient, even on a large scale, and the resulting 5-alkoxy-1,3-thiazoles could be purified without the use of column chromatography. The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a family of 5-alkoxy-2-(4-cyanophenyl)-1,3-thiazole liquid crystals prepared via this approach are discussed and compared with their thiophene and phenyl analogues.