Synthesis of a series of novel chiral smectic C (Sc*) phase shish‐kebab type liquid crystalline polymers

A series of chiral smectic C phase shish‐kebab type liquid crystal polymers was synthesized by low‐temperature solution condensation polymerization from 2,5‐bis[4‐((S)‐alkoxyl)benzoyloxy]hydroquinone and aliphatic diacylchloride. The monomers and their precursors were identified by using elemental analysis, infrared spectrum, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. The polymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, temperature‐variable X‐ray diffraction, polarimeter and polarizing microscope (POM) with a heating stage. All the polymers entered into liquid crystal phase when heated to above their melting temperature. The Schlieren texture and sanded texture were observed on POM. All the chiral compounds and polymers showed high optical activity. Temperature‐variable, X‐ray diffraction study together with the POM and polarimetric analysis revealed that the polymers synthesized are chiral smectic C phase. Thus, the present report provides examples of shish‐kebab type polymers that form a chiral smectic C phase. The change of the melting temperature and isotropization temperature with the variation in molecular structure was also discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

新型手性近晶C相液晶共聚酯的设计与合成

以对苯二甲酰氯 ,2 ,5 二 [4 ((s) 2 甲基丁氧基 )苯甲酰氧基 ]对苯二酚和乙二醇、一缩乙二醇、二缩三乙二醇、三缩四乙二醇和聚乙二醇为单体 ,采用低温溶液缩聚方法 ,合成了一系列新的手性近晶C相串型液晶共聚酯 .共聚酯通过GPC、DSC、TG、WAXD、偏光显微镜和旋光仪等方法表征 .发现所有的共聚酯加热至各自的熔点以上都能形成液晶态 ,在液晶态可以观察到近晶相的焦锥织构 ,所有的手性化合物和共聚酯都有较高的旋光性 .通过变温X 射线衍射研究结合偏光显微镜观察和旋光分析证明它们为手性近晶C相 .所有共聚酯的熔融温度 (Tm)和各向同性温度 (Ti)随共聚酯中不同柔性链段长度的增加逐渐降低 ,液晶态温度范围变宽     

SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYSILOXANES WITH MESOGENIC STILBENE SIDE GROUPS*

A variety of mesomorphic side-chain polysiloxanes were synthesized by using hydrosilylation reaction withdicyclopentadienylplatinum (Ⅱ) (DPPC) as the catalyst. The mesogenic groups are derivatives of stilbene with cyano or nitrotail groups. The products were characterized by DSC, X-ray deffraction and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). All thepolymers were found to have relatively low T_g and can form a smectic liquid crystal phase.     

Thermal switching characteristics based on smectic-A↔chiral nematic phase transitions of (liquid crystals/chiral dopant) composites,with and without side chain-type liquid crystalline polymer

The light switching characteristics induced by a thermal smectic A (SmA) ? chiral nematic (N*) phase transition were studied for homeotropically aligned [smectic A liquid crystal (SmA-LC)/nematic liquid crystal (N-LC)/chiral dopant] and [side chain type smectic A liquid crystalline polymer (SmA-LCP)/N-LC/chiral dopant] composites. A drastic change from a transparent SmA phase to a light-scattering N* phase occurred in both composites upon heating. In the case of the heat-induced N* phase for the (SmA-LC/N-LC/chiral dopant) composite, the N* phase exhibited weak light scattering due to formation of a scroll texture. On the other hand, in the case of the heat-induced N* phase for the (SmA-LCP/N-LC/chiral dopant) composite, the N* phase showed strong light scattering due to formation of a focalconic texture. The existence of a SmA-LCP was responsible for a higher contrast ratio between the transparent SmA phase and the light scattering N* phase for the (SmA-LCP/ N-LC/chiral dopant) composite than for the (SA-LCN/N-LC/chiral dopant) composite.     

Synthesis and characterization of new ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a (2S)-2-[6-(4-hydroxybiphenyl-4'-carbonyloxy)-2'- naphthyl] propionate mesogenic group and oligo(oxyethylene) spacers

Three series of ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a (2S)-2-(6-(4-hydroxybiphenyl-4'-carbonyloxy)-2'-naphthyl)propionate mesogenic group and oligo(oxyethylene) spacers were synthesized. These obtained liquid crystal compounds were characterized by NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical polarized microscopy (POM), and X-ray powder diffraction measurements. Some of these materials containing four phenyl rings of ester cores (i.e. -Ph-Ph-COO-naph-) and chiral heptyl tail exhibited a rich mesomorphic behaviour, a blue phase (BP), a cholesteric phase (Ch), a smectic A (S_A), a twist grain boundary A (TGB_A), and a chiral smectic C (S_C*) phase. Another series containing four phenyl rings of ester cores and chiral butyl and pentyl chain tails revealed only a S_A phase and a S_C* phase. Moreover, a crystal E phase was observed in the short spacer chain (n = 0 or 1) homologues of three series of compounds. Also, the mesomorphism properties were discussed as a function of spacer units, numbers of aromatic rings of core, and different terminal asymmetric moieties.     

新型光活性串型液晶共聚物合成与表征

以对苯二甲酰氯,２ ,５ 二［４ （（Ｓ） ２ 甲基丁氧基） 苯甲酰氧基］ 对苯二酚和己二醇为单体,采用溶液共缩聚的方法,合成了一系列新的光活性串型液晶共聚物．共聚物通过ＧＰＣ、ＤＳＣ、ＴＧ、ＷＡＸＤ、偏光显微镜和旋光仪等方法表征．发现所有的共聚物加热至各自的熔点以上都能形成液晶态,在液晶态可以观察到沙地织构或破碎焦锥织构．通过变温Ｘ 射线衍射证明它们为手性近晶Ｃ（Ｓ＊Ｃ） 相．所有共聚物的熔点（ Ｔｍ） 和液晶态清亮点（ Ｔｉ） 随共聚物中己二醇用量的改变呈规律性变化．共聚物有很高的旋光性,在合成反应中旋光性保持．     

新型侧链液晶M5MPP/MMEANB高聚物的合成与表征

以4,4'-二羟基联苯、4-硝基苯胺、二溴己烷、甲基丙烯酸、氯代乙醇为原料合成了单体甲基丙烯酸[5(4'-甲氧基联苯4氧基)戊基]酯(M5MPP)、4-硝基偶氮苯基甲基-2-甲基丙烯酸酯基乙胺(MMEANB),并完成了单体的聚合和共聚,得到了含有非线性光学活性基团(NLO)的侧链液晶高分子,对其结构进行了表征.结果表明,均聚物PM5MPP及共聚物(M5MPP/MMEANB)属双向液晶高分子;PMMEANB属于非晶性高分子.证实了分子间吸电子与给电子基团相互作用有利于提高液晶高分子热稳定性,共聚物(M5MPP/MMEANB)具有较宽的液晶相温度范围.     

Spacer length dependence of TGBC* and SmA phases in cholesteryl and dihydrocholesteryl-containing trimer liquid crystals

Two series of trimer liquid crystals were investigated that contain a biphenylyl central group and two cholesteryl or dihydrocholesteryl terminal mesogenic groups. Only compounds with even spacers were investigated. The dihydrocholesteryl-containing trimers show a triply intercalated smectic A (SmA) phase when the spacer lengths are greater than 8, whereas the cholesteryl-containing trimers exhibit this triply intercalated SmA phase when the spacer lengths are more than 6. With shorter spacers, a twist grain boundary C* (TGBC*) phase was found. This is revealed by the formation of a typical dotted square grid pattern upon cooling from the chiral nematic (N*) phase in the planar texture. The dots are spaced by a distance of about 1.5-1.8 µm. Upon cooling from the N* phase in the focal conic texture a striped pattern is observed with the same spacing. X-ray diffraction revealed a repeat distance for the TGBC* phase that corresponds with a monolayer ordering. The results show that the weaker interaction between the dihydrocholesteryl groups compared with cholesteryl groups or longer spacers destabilize the monolayer TGBC* phase.     

Mesomorphic Characteristics of Induced Chiral Nematic Phase of [Smectic LCP,PS(4BC/DM)/Nematic LC,E7/Chiral Dopant,CB-15]-Ternary Composite System

ＭｅｓｏｍｏｒｐｈｉｃＣｈａｒａｃｔｅｒｉｓｔｉｃｓｏｆＩｎｄｕｃｅｄＣｈｉｒａｌＮｅｍａｔｉｃＰｈａｓｅｏｆ［ＳｍｅｃｔｉｃＬＣＰ,ＰＳ（４ＢＣ／ＤＭ）／ＮｅｍａｔｉｃＬＣ,Ｅ７／ＣｈｉｒａｌＤｏｐａｎｔ,ＣＢ┐１５］┐ＴｅｒｎａｒｙＣｏｍｐｏｓｉ...     

Reinvestigation of liquid crystalline property of dimesogenic compound consisting of cholesterol and cyanobiphenyl

The dimesogenic compound consisting of cholesterol and cyanobiphenyl mesogens interlinked byω-oxyalkanoyl spacer was synthesized.The mesomorphic properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),polarizing optical microscopy(POM),and X-ray diffraction(XRD).The experimental results indicated that this compound exhibited mesophase over a much wider temperature range and a new mesophase blue phase(BP).Focal conic domains(FCDs) and droplets texture to the smectic A phase(SA),oily streaks...     

Synthesis and characterization of new ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a phenyl biphenyl carboxylate mesogenic group and oligooxyethylene spacers

Two series of ferroelectric liquid crystals containing a phenyl biphenyl carboxylate mesogenic group and oligooxyethylene spacers were synthesized. The mesomorphic behaviours of the compounds were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical polarizing microscopy (POM) and powder X-ray diffraction measurements. These series all contain a smectic A (S_A), a chiral smectic C (S_C) and a crystal E (C_r E) phase sequence. The ordered smectic Cr E phase was observed for the short spacer chain (n = 0, 1, 2) homologues of the two series. Moreover, the mesomorphic properties are discussed as a function of the oligooxyethylene spacer length, and the position of the aromatic core rings. These results indicate that the structures with a rigid part (biphenyl group) closer to the flexible spacer chain (oxyethylene unit) tend to form the symmetrical smectic S_A and Cr E phases.     

Thermo-recording in (side chain type smectic A liquid crystal polymer/nematic liquid crystal/chiral dopant/dichroic dye) composite with a low power laser

Thermo-recording in a [side chain type smectic A liquid crystal polymer (SmA-LCP)/nematic liquid crystal (N-LC)/chiral dopant/dichroic dye] composite has been realized by using 2mW of power from a He-Ne laser. The laser irradiation-induced phase transitions of smectic A (SmA) → chiral nematic (N*) → SmA formed the dominant thermo-recording mechanism in the composite. Thermo-recording in the (SmA-LCP/N-LC/chiral dopant/dichroic dye) composite exhibited a higher contrast when compared with the non-polymeric (SmA-LC)/N-LC/chiral dopant/dichroic dye composite.     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROPHOBIC-HYDROPHILIC MULTIBLOCK COPOLYMERS FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS*

The synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic copolymers of poly(dimethyl siloxane)(PDMS),poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO), and heparin(Hep) were investigated. These multiblock copolymers wereidentified using ~1H-NMR, FTIR, end group analysis, and sulfur elemental analysis. The multiblockcopolymers were characterized by using DSC and X-ray diffractometry. The glass transition temperature,crystalline melting characteristics, annealing effect, and cold crystallization of the block copolymers weredetermined by DSC. The crystallinity of the block copolymers was also determined by X-ray diffractionmethod.     

STUDY ON CHIRAL LIQUID CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS WITH BIPHENYLENE AND AZOBENZENE AS THE MESOGENS

Chiral liquid crystalline polymers containing biphenylene and azobenzene as the mesogensand S(-)-2-methyl-1-butanol as the chiral end group were synthesized and characterized by DSC,POM and X-ray diffraction. These polymers show crystalline or glassy liquid crystalline phase atroom temperature. Most polymers show smectic A or highly ordered smectic phases abovemelting temperature.     

Liquid crystal dimers possessing chiral rod-like anisometric segments: synthesis, characterization and electro-optic behaviour

Several new optically active liquid crystal dimers comprising pro-mesogenic cholesterol and a chiral diphenylacetylene (tolane) segment, covalently linked in an end-to-end fashion through a flexible spacer, have been synthesized and investigated for their mesomorphic behaviour with the aid of optical, calorimetric and X-ray diffraction studies. Five unsymmetrical dimers, designed on the basis of recent work, involve molecular structural variations of the tolane mesogenic entity with a view to stabilizing a wide thermal range smectic A (SmA) phase featuring the electroclinic effect. Three different chiral chains, namely, (S)-1-methylheptyloxy, (S)-2-methylbutyloxy, (3S)-3,7-dimethyloctyloxy, with or without polar (nitro or fluoro) lateral substituents, were incorporated, while keeping the length (C₆) of the spacer constant. As expected, all the dimers exhibited a SmA phase. A few also showed chiral nematic (N*) and/or twist grain boundary and/or chiral smectic C (SmC*) phases. Remarkably, some of these oligomesogens, upon melting, had a stable SmA phase over a wide thermal interval (100-150°C); this state seems to be stable for a long period of time. Electro-optic studies, including optical tilt angle as well as temporal response as a function of temperature, were carried out in the SmA phase. The SmC* phase was also investigated for its electrical switching and optical tilt angle, as well as spontaneous polarization as a function of temperature. These studies showed that the mesophase response to an applied field is weak and is independent of variations in the dimer investigated.     

液晶性芳香醛化合物的合成

以对羟基苯甲醛和对烷氧基联苯酰氯为原料,采用爱因宏反应,合成了一系列4-(4'-烷氧基联苯基-4-羧基)苯甲醛.化合物的结构通过元素分析、红外光谱、核磁共振和质谱等方法确证.化合物的液晶行为用示差扫描量热法、偏光显微镜和旋光仪等方法表征.结果表明,所有的化合物加热至各自的熔点以上都能形成液晶态.在液晶态可以观察到手性近晶C相、近晶相、胆甾相和向列相的典型织构.含手性中心的化合物都有较高的旋光性,而且在合成反应中旋光性得到保持.随着分子末端烷氧基碳原子数增加,化合物(除2a和4a外)的熔点(T_m)和液晶态的清亮点(T_i)呈规律性变化,近晶相范围和近晶相-向列相转变温度渐增,而向列相温度范围递减,至十二烷基时,仅呈现近晶性.     

Surface Anchoring Stabilized High Strength Disclinations in Smectic C Phase of a Schiff-base Liquid Crystal

The observation of disclination cores of high strength S= -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8 in a smectic C phase of Schiff-base type liquid crystal (LC) is reported. The results of polarizing optical microscope (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) prove that the sample exhibits smectic C phase. It is suggested that the formation of the high strength disclination is mainly ascribed to the stronger anchoring of LC molecules on the substrate due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the pendent hydroxyl of the LC molecule and the substrate.     

A new synthetic approach based on (−)-menthone for chiral liquid crystals

Starting from (?)-menthone, a new chiral building block useful for liquid crystal preparation was synthesized. This chiral moiety was attached to selected phenols under mild conditions by esterification. Rigid cores of tolanebenzoates and phenylbenzoates were prepared using the palladium cross-coupling reaction or by traditional liquid crystal synthesis methods. This convergent approach ended with a second esterification or palladium cross-coupling reaction to furnish new liquid crystal materials with smectic A, smectic C* and N* phases, as well as blue phases (BP). Thermal behavior, and the effect of chiral moiety branches and molecular packing in the smectic phases, have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction.     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MAIN CHAIN AROMATIC LIQUID CRYSTAL COPOLYESTERS WITH X-SHAPED AND ROD-SHAPED MESOGENIC UNITS

A series of main chain liquid crystal aromatic copolyesters with X-shapedand rod-shaped mesogenic units were synthesized via solution condensation polymerizationsof 4, 4'-(α,ω-octanedioyloxy)-dibenzoyl dichlorides with 2,5-bis(p-octanoxy benzoyloxy)-hydroquinone and diphenol. All of the copolyesters showed thermotropic liquid crystallinebehaviors through observations using DSC, polarized microscopy and X-ray diffraction.The melting point (T_m) and the isotropization temperature (T) change regularly withvarying the content of diphenol unit in the copolymers.     

Synthesis and characterization of 6-[4-(trans -4-pentylcyclohexyl)phenoxy]hexyl acrylate homopolymer and copolymers

The compound 6-[4-(trans -4-pentylcyclohexyl)phenoxy]hexyl acrylate (2) was prepared and homopolymerized. The block copolymer and copolymer of 2 with styrene were synthesized by photopolymerization and solution techniques, respectively. These polymers were characterized by IR and ¹H NMR spectra and size exclusion chromatography. Polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies revealed that these polymers exhibited smectic A (SmA) phases. POM showed that the homopolymer showed a higher order SmA phase than did the block copolymer and copolymer. After magnetically forced alignment the samples exhibited similar optical texture but the domain size of the liquid crystalline phase increased. Differential scanning calorimetry, POM and XRD data suggest that the SmA domain size decreased in the order hompolymer > block copolymer > copolymer.