Abstract

A new type of five-membered heterocyclic 1,2,4-triazoles (1–5) with various substituents on the N-4 position, such as benzyl, phenyl or n-alkyl groups, utilized as core group to generate room temperature columnar mesophases is reported. The presence of lone pair electrons on the nitrogen atoms and/or nonplanarity in this type of heterocyclic structure might be responsible for the formation of the columnar mesophases and the resulting lower melting and clearing temperatures.