1,13-Tridecanediol

The crystal structure of tridecane-1,13-diol, C 13 H 28 O 2 , a model for liquid crystals, has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The molecules form a layer structure along the a axis as in a smectic A liquid crystal. The skeleton of the molecule has an all-trans conformations. One of the terminal hydroxyl groups is in a gauche conformation, while the other is trans.