Introducing the azocinnamic acid scaffold into bent-core liquid crystal design: A structure–property relationship study

•The first bent-core mesogens with the azocinammoyl scaffold in the side wings are described.•Introduction of substituents into the central and outer rings reveals rich mesomorphism.•The NO2 group in the obtuse angle of the bent core leads to a B7 phase.•Some of the compounds exhibit LC phases typical for rod-like molecules.