In order to investigate the influence of the terminal substitution on mesomorphism, two new series of azo-Schiff base and azo-ester liquid crystals having the following structures have been synthesized. All the compounds possess mesomorphic properties. In series A compounds A1 and A3 exhibit only a nematic mesophase, whereas compounds A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, and A10 exhibit a smectic as well as a nematic phase. In series B ...