Structure of a liquid crystal of 4-cyano-4′-n-octyloxybiphenyl

The structure of a liquid crystal of 4-cyano-4′-n-octyloxybiphenyl (C21H25NO) is determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system with unit cell parameters a = 7.322(1) A, b = 12.693(3) A, c = 20.393(2) A, α = 92.45(1)°, β = 99.96(1)°, γ = 99.35(2)°, and space group \(P\bar 1\). The structure is solved by the direct method and refined to R = 0.057. Two independent molecules are located in the asymmetric unit. No short intermolecular contacts are observed in the crystal packing.