Liquid Crystalline Properties of Ergosteryl Fatty Acid Esters

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Abstract
Thirteen fatty acid esters of ergosterol (24α-methyl-5, 7, 22-cholestatrien-3β-ol) have been prepared and their liquid crystalline properties studied with the polarizing microscope. Ergosteryl acetate is not mesomorphic. Saturated even-chain esters from the butyrate to the laurate form enaniotropic smectic transitions. The myristate and palmitate form monotropic transitions, the smetic mesophases being formed only upon cooling the isotropic liquid. The stearate also forms a monotropic transition, the smectic mesophase being formed below the melting point. The heptanoate, nonanoate and tridecanoate odd-chain esters also form the enaniotropic transitions. An odd-even effect on the liquid crystalline properties is observed in this series of esters.