Synthesis of liquid crystalline 4H-benzo[1,2,4]thiadiazines and generation of persistent radicals.

Four substituted 4H-benzo[1,2,4]thiadiazines 2 were prepared by condensation of the appropriate anilines and benzonitriles followed by oxidative cyclization. The preparation of three fluorinated derivatives 2b-2d proceeded smoothly, while the synthesis of 2a was problematic, presumably due to the relatively high electron density of the benzene ring. The four-ring derivatives 2c and 2d exhibited liquid crystalline properties (2c: Cr 95 SmA 158 I and 2d: Cr 142 SmA 212 I). 4H-Benzo[1,2,4]thiadiazines 2 were oxidized with AgO to generate the corresponding persistent radicals 1 (g=2.0057). The stability of the radicals followed the order 1b approximately 1d>1c>1a, and the two fluorinated radicals 1b and 1d were isolated as crude solids. The lower stability of 1c is presumably due to the presence of the reactive benzylic CH position, and 1a lacks the stabilizing effect of the three fluorine atoms. ESR spectra for 1 were simulated using DFT-derived hfcc as the starting point.