Electro-optical Kerr-effect in solutions of benzylidene aniline and its derivatives

Abstract

The Kerr-effect for three molecules which have a structural relationship to the nematogen MBBA (N-p-methoxybenzylidene-p-n-butyl aniline) has been studied in solution in carbon tetrachloride. It was found that whereas benzylidine aniline (BA) and p-methoxy benzylidene aniline (MBA) were unassociated in the range of concentration and temperature studied here, benzylidene-p-n-butyl anline (BBA) exhibited the anomalous behaviour found previously for MBBA in its isotropic state and in solution, being a characteristic of association of the molecules. The results for BBA and MBBA are discussed in relation to evidence for association in MBBA obtained by Gierke and Flygare from light scattering studies and in terms of available relations between light scattering and Kerr-constant factors and orientational correlation functions between molecules.