Novel chiral liquid crystals based on amides and azo compounds derived from 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles: synthesis and mesomorphic properties

Novel chiral amides (Ia-Ie, II) and azo compounds (III, IV) with a 1,3,4-thiadiazole unit in the rigid core were synthesized and their liquid crystalline properties investigated by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The amides Ia-Ie contain a chiral alkoxy chain derived from (R)-2-octanol and an achiral chain varying from 6 to 10 carbon atoms at the end of the rigid core. In amide II one of the terminal group is a chiral alkoxy chain derived from (S)-isoleucine and the other terminal substituent is an achiral n-decyloxy chain. Azo compounds III and IV contain an achiral n-decyloxy chain and a chiral alkoxy chain derived from (R)-2-octanol and (S)-isoleucine, respectively, at the end of the rigid core. The first homologue in the series of amides (Ia) exhibits enantiotropic smectic X (SmX)-chiral nematic (N*) dimorphism and the homologues Ib-Ie display enantiotropic SmX-chiral smectic C (SmC*)-N* mesomorphism. Amide II displays an enantiotropic smectic A phase. The azo compounds III and IV do not show smectic order and only an enantiotropic N* phase was observed. Thus, the mesomorphic behaviour depends on the nature of the central linkage and on the nature of the chiral alkoxy chain.     

Helical structures induced by laterally-connected chiral twin molecules

A novel chiral twin material, (R)-bis[5-octyloxy-2-(4-octyloxyphenoxycarbonyl)phenyl] 3-methyladipate, has been prepared, where two mesogenic parts are connected laterally by a spacer possessing a chiral centre. A weaker helical structure, in particular in the chiral smectic C (S*_c) phase, was found to be induced by the laterally-connected twin material than by the analogous terminally-connected twin material. If laterally-connected chiral twin molecules prefer to stay in the smectic layer structure so that the two mesogenic parts exist in the same smectic layer, the twist interaction between adjacent layers cannot be produced by direct correlation of motion and directions of two mesogenic parts. Thus, the helical structure in the S*_c phase induced by laterally-connected chiral twin molecules becomes weak. An analogous laterally-branched 'monomeric' compound, (S)-5-octyloxy-2-(4-octyloxyphenoxycarbonyl)phenyl 3-methyl-pentanoate, has also been prepared, and the induced helical structures compared.     

A chiral material with a new phase sequence: twist grain boundary smectic C phase-smectic blue phases

A new phase sequence: twist grain boundary smectic C (TGBC) to smectic blue phases (BP_Sm) is observed in a chiral compound (S)- or (R)-1-methyloctyl 3'-fluoro-4'-(3-fluoro-4-hexadecyloxybenzoyloxy)tolane-4-carboxylate. It is the first time that a TGBC phase has been found to occur under smectic blue phases in the absence of the twist grain boundary smectic A (TGBA) phase. These phases are characterized by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray scattering.     

Stereochemical studies of optically active 2-hydroxy-5-alkyl-δ-valerolactone derivatives as chiral dopant for ferroelectric liquid crystals

Both (2S, 5R)- and (2R, 5R)-2-hydroxy-5-alkyl-δ-valerolactone derivatives, cis and trans, respectively, show almost the same magnitude of spontaneous polarization (P_s) when added to a non-chiral smectic C mixture. The stereochemistry of these chiral dopants was studied using ¹H NMR. Trans derivatives seem to have a half-chair conformation with the 2, 5-diequatorial substituents and the cis derivatives have rather a flat conformation in solution. However in the liquid-crystalline phase, the cis and trans derivatives appear to change their conformation or the distribution of their conformations as the alkyl chain length is varied. The difference in the effect as a chiral dopant depends upon lateral interactions between chiral molecules through the solvent liquid crystal phase.     

Broad liquid crystalline temperature range of ferroelectric liquid crystals

Novel ferroelectric liquid crystalline compounds, containing the (S)-2-methyl-l -butyl (4-hydroxybiphenyl-4'-carbonyloxy)biphenyl-4-carboxylate mesogenic group and an oligooxyethylene spacer, were synthesized. The mesomorphic properties of these materials were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical polarizing microscopy (POM) and powder X-ray diffraction measurement. The results indicate that all members of this series exhibit a very broad temperature mesophase range (reaching a maximum around 210°C) including a blue phase (BP), cholesteric (Ch), twist grain boundary A (TGB_A), chiral smectic C (S*_c), and smectic X (S_x) phases. The mesomorphic properties are discussed and a comparison is made with three phenyl rings of ester core analogues.     

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.     

Effect of a lateral substituent on the mesomorphic properties of ferroelectric side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes

The synthesis of side chain liquid crystalline polysiloxanes containing oligooxyethylene spacers and ( S )-2-methylbutyl 4-\[(4-oxybiphenyl-4-yl)carbonyloxy]-3-fluorobenzoate mesogenic side groups is presented. Differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements reveal liquid crystalline properties for all synthesized monomers and polymers. All three precursor olefinic monomers reveal cholesteric and smectic A phases. The olefinic monomer which contains two oligooxyethylene units in the spacer is the only one which reveals a twist grain boundary A phase and a blue phase, besides the cholesteric and smectic A phases. All three polysiloxanes present enantiotropic smectic A and chiral smectic C phases. The mesomorphic behaviours of the monomers and polymers are compared with those of the corresponding monomers and polymers without the lateral fluoro substituent. The results seem to demonstrate that incorporating a lateral fluoro substituent in the mesogenic cores of the monomers affects not only the mesophase thermal stability, but also the nature of the mesophases formed. However, incorporating a lateral fluoro substituent in the mesogenic cores of the polymers affects only the thermal stability of the mesophases formed. The lateral fluoro substituent has a more profound effect on the mesomorphic behaviour for the monomers than that for the polymers.     

Chiral Non-racemic Bis(vicinal 1,2-Diamines): 4,5-Diamino-N-(3,4-diaminobutyl)pentanamide Tetrahydrochloride, N,N′-Bis[3,4-bis (t-butoxycarbonylamino)butyl]urea and N,N′Bis

The reaction of (R) or (S)-N⁴,N⁵-bis(t-butoxycarbonyl)-4,5-diaminopentanoic acid (6) with (R) or (S)-N³,N⁴-bis(t-butoxycarbonyl)-3,4-diaminobutylisocyanate (8) catalyzed by 4-dimethylamino pyridine (DMAP), leads to the synthesis of (R,R), (S,S), (R,S) and (S,R) isomeric amides (11 a — d) The addition of adipic acid monomethyl ester to (R) or (S) isocyanate, followed by saponification, acidification and subsequent reaction with the second molecule of (R) or (S) isocyanate allows isolation of the (R,R), (S.S) and the meso isomers of N,N′-bis[3,4-bis(t-butoxycarbonylamino) butyl]hexanediamide (17) Removal of protecting groups with HCl/EtOH affords chiral non-racemic molecules having two free vicinal diamine units.     

Tris-chelate complexes with chiral ligands: In search of diastereoisomeric selectivity with remote stereogenic centres

The chiral ligands, 4,4′-bis{(1S,2R,4S)-(−)-bornyloxy}-2,2′-bipyridine, (1S,2R,4S)-1, and 4,4′-bis{(1R,2S,4R)-(+)-bornyloxy}-2,2′-bipyridine, (1R,2S,4R)-1, have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques and, for (1S,2R,4S)-1, by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Despite the use of enantiomerically pure ligands, the formation of the complexes [Fe((1S,2R,4S)-1)₃]²⁺, [Ru((1S,2R,4S)-1)₃]²⁺, [Ru((1S,2R,4S)-1)(bpy)₂]²⁺ and [Ru((1R,2S,4R)-1)(bpy)₂]²⁺ proceeds without preference for either the Δ or Λ-diastereoisomers.     

Photochromic chiral liquid crystalline systems containing spiro-oxazine with a chiral substituent I. Synthesis and characterization of compounds

Photochromic acrylates containing both biphenylene and spiro-oxazine moieties with a chiral substituent and the related polymers were prepared and yielded photochromic chiral liquid crystalline systems. The photochromic acrylates containing both an undecamethylene group and a (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoyloxy group (A11SOP) or a (-)-menthoxyacetoxy group (A11SOM) gave a supercooled mesophase; the latter reflected right-handed visible light (blue colour) at room temperature. On the other hand, the photochromic acrylate containing both the (R)-(-)-2-methylpropylene and (2S, 3S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoyloxy groups (A3SOP) showed no mesophase. The related homopolymers, PA11SOP and PA11SOM, did not exhibit mesophases because of steric hindrance between the side groups of the polymers. However, only PA11SOM exhibited shear-induced birefringence under 100-104°C. Several copolymers consisting of the nematogenic monomer, 4-[4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy)benzoyloxy]benzonitrile (A6CN), and A11SOP or A11SOM possessed a smectic phase due to reduction of the steric hindrance between the potentially smectogenic A11SOP or A11SOM moieties.     

Enantiodivergent synthesis of 3-amino-4,4-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrrolidin-2-one and derivatives: amino analogues of pantolactone

An enantiodivergent preparation of (+)-(R)- and (−)-(S)-3-amino-4,4-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrrolidin-2-one, (R)- and (S)-9, and several derivatives, from 4,4-dimethyl-1-phenylpyrrolidin-2,3-dione, 4, and (R)- or (S)-1-phenylethylamine, (R)- or (S)-5, as the chirality transfer agents, is described. Amine (S)-9 has also been used as a chiral auxiliary in a diastereoselective Michael reaction.     

Stable hydrazone-linked chiral covalent organic frameworks: Synthesis,modification, and chiral signal inversion from monomers

The designed synthesis of chiral covalent organic frameworks(COFs) featuring intriguing properties is fairly scant and remains a daunting synthetic challenge.Here we develop a de novo synthesis of an enantiomeric pair of 2 D hydroxyl-functionalized hydrazone-linked chiral COFs,(S)-and(R)-HthBta-OH COFs,using enantiopure 2,5-bis(2-hydroxypropoxy)terephthalohydrazide(Hth) as monomers.The fo rmation process of hydroxyl-functionalized chiral COFs was monitored using rigorous time-dependent PXRD,vibrational circular dichroism(VCD),and electronic circular dichroism(ECD) studies.Remarkably,VCD spectra indicated a unique chiral signal inversion from the positive Cotton effect of(S)-Hth monomer to the negative Cotton effect of(S)-HthBta-OH COF,which has never been reported in chiral COFs.Moreover,two unprecedented carboxyl-functionalized chiral COFs,(S)-and(R)-HthBta-COOH,were constructed by a post-synthetic modification of the corresponding hydroxyl chiral COFs with succinic anhydride.Notably,carboxyl-functionalized COFs retained homochirality and crystallinity without linker racemization and structural collapse after the chemical modification due to the chemically robust nature of pristine hydrazone-linked chiral COFs.     

TGBA phase in a series of propionates containing two stereocenters

A homologous series of chiral materials, (R)-2-pentyl (S)-2-(6-(4-(4'-alkoxyphenyl)benzoyloxy)-2-naphthyl)propionates (R,S)PmPBNP (m = 7-14), derived from a naphthalene ring as part of the core structure in conjunction with a chiral tail containing two stereocentres has been synthesized for the investigation. The twist grain boundary smectic A (TGB_A) and smectic C (TGB*_C) phases were characterized by the microscopic textures of compounds packed in two untreated glass slides, Cano wedge cell, or homogeneously aligned cell. It was found that the occurrence of these phases depend remarkably on the nature of alkyl chain length m; in the case of shorter alkyl chain length (m = 7-10), the TGB_A phase behaves as a metastable-like phase mediated between N and S_A phases in a short temperature range, whereas in the longer chain length (m' 11-14), both the TGB_A and TGB_C phases become thermodynamically stable phases with a wide temperature range. Consequently, this series of chiral materials resulted in two different mesophase sequences: N-TGB_A-S_A-S_Cand N-TGB_A-TGB_C. A kind of parquet texture displaying two types of domain with different relative directions of the smectic layer normal was found in the S phase from the materials (m = 9-14) packed in 2 μm homogeneously aligned cells and cooled down from the isotropic liquid without applying an electric field. The magnitudes of spontaneous polarization (P_s) in the S_C and TGB_C phases showed that the P_s values are nearly the same for all compounds at the same temperature below the Curie point. Dielectric measurements revealed no significant occurrence of soft mode switching in the TGB_A phase.     

Synthesis of 1,1′-methylenedi[(1R,1′R,3R,3′R,5R,5′R)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] and derivatives: precursors of long-chain polyketides

Racemic 1,1′-methylene[(1RS,1′RS,3RS,3′RS,5RS,5′RS)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] ((±)-6) derived from 2,2′-methylenedifuran has been resolved kinetically with Candida cyclindracea lipase-catalysed transesterification giving 1,1′-methylenedi[(1R,1′R,3R,3′R,5R,5′R)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ol] (−)-6 (30% yield, 98% ee) and 1,1′-methylenedi[(1S,1′S,3S,3′S,5S,5′S)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-yl] diacetate (+)-8, (40% yield, 98% ee). These compounds have been converted into 1,1′-methylenedi[(4S,4′S,6S,6′S)- and (4R,4′R,6R,6′R)-cyclohept-1-en-4,6-diyl] derivatives.     

Chemoenzymatic synthesis of (+)-totarol, (+)-podototarin, (+)-sempervirol, and (+)-jolkinolides E and D

The enzymatic resolution products [(1R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal (8aR)-7 (98% ee) and {acetate of (1S,4aS,8aS)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-decahydro-5,5,8a-trimethyl-2-oxo-trans-naphthalene-1-methanol-2-ethylene acetal} (8aS)-9 (>99% ee)] obtained by the lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylation of (±)-7 in the presence of vinyl acetate as an acyl donor were converted to the ,β-unsaturated ketones (8aR)-6 and (8aS)-6, respectively. Concise syntheses of (+)-totarol 1, (+)-podototarin 2 and (+)-sempervirol 3 were achieved based on Michael reactions between (8aS)-6 and the appropriate β-keto ester followed by aldol condensation. The first chiral syntheses of (+)-jolkinolides E 4 and D 5 were achieved from (5R,10R,12R)-12-hydroxypodocarpa-8(14)-en-13-one 15 derived from (8aR)-6.     

Novel liquid-crystalline derivatives of transition metals. The effect of the molecular geometry of the ligands on the mesogenic properties of tetracoordinated copper(II) complexes

The synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of several new series of copper(II) complexes derived from carbonylic compounds and their Schiff's bases are reported. The complexes are of two types; [Cu(C₆H₃O(R)-C(X) = O)₂], (type I) and [Cu(C₆H₃O(R)-C(X) = N-R')₂] (type II) where R = - OOC-C₆H₄OC₁₀H₂₁-p, and the position of R is 4 or 5; R' = CH₃, n-C₁₀H₂₁, p-n-C₁₀H₂₁O(C₆H₄)-; X = H, CH₃. In type I complexes, only the compound with X = H and R in position 5 showed mesomorphism. For type II complexes, all the Schiff's bases complexes of copper(II) derived from 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde showed thermotropic mesophases (smectic C and nematic), whereas the complexes derived from 2,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde were only mesogenic when the imine was derived from methylamine. None of the complexes derived from the ketone (2,4 or 2,5-dihydroxy derivatives) showed liquid-crystalline properties. X-ray studies of four complexes of type II were carried out. The anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility has a negative sign for complexes with R in position 4 and a positive sign for 2,5-derivative complexes. The relationship between molecular structure and mesomorphic behaviour is discussed.     

Synthesis of four enantiomerically pure 4-(4-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-methoxybutylphosphonic acids

CuCl-catalysed cycloaddition of methyl propiolate to O,O-diisopropyl (1S,2R,3S)- and (1R,2R,3S)-, or O,O-dibenzyl (1S,2R,3S)-, (1R,2R,3S)-, (1S,2R,3R)- and (1R,2R,3R)-4-azido-1,2,3-trihydroxy-2,3-O-isopropylidenebutylphosphonates followed by methylation of HO–C-1, ammonolysis of methoxycarbonyl groups and hydrolysis of isopropylidene acetals led to diisopropyl (1S,2R,3S)- and (1R,2R,3S)-4-(4-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-methoxybutylphosphonates or, after hydrogenolytic removal of benzyl groups, to (1S,2R,3S)-, (1R,2R,3S)-, (1S,2R,3R)- and (1R,2R,3R)-4-(4-carbamoyl-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2,3-dihydroxy-1-methoxybutylphosphonic acids.     

Thermotropic liquid crystalline comb-like polymers with polyacrylamide main chain. (2) Influence of the nature of the substituents of the biphenyl mesogenic core

Comb-like polymers with polyacrylamide main chains and three types of lipophilic biphenyl side chains have been synthesized and their thermotropic behaviour has been determined. All the polymers exhibit two smectic mesophases as a function of temperature, but the nature of the smectic mesophases is governed by the nature of the substituent R of the biphenyl core. For R = H, the polymers exhibit a double layer, ordered, tilted smectic S_i2 and a double layer, disordered, tilted smectic S_c2. For R = CN, the polymers exhibit a double layer, disordered, tilted smectic S_c2 and a double layer, disordered, perpendicular smectic S_A2. For R = O-CH₂-CH(CH₃)-C₂H₅, the polymers exhibit a double layer, ordered, tilted smectic S_f2 and a double layer, disordered, tilted smectic S_c2, these two structures being chiral when the substituent R is chiral. Comparison of the thermotropic behaviour of the polyacrylamide polymers with that of polymers with the same mesogenic cores but different main chains shows the high smectogenic power of the polyacrylamide skeleton.     

The influence of the liquid crystalline core geometry on the mesogenicity of novel chiral 2-(4-substituted-phenoxy)propanonitriles

The synthesis and characterization of seven novel (R)-2-(4-substituted-phenoxy)propanonitriles are described. The propanonitriles were prepared to evaluate their potential use as thermochromics and ferroelectric dopants, as well as to determine their twist sense properties. The materials exhibit smectic and chiral nematic phases of high thermal stability; the mesogenic behaviour of the nitriles is directly related to the type of two-ring core unit employed. The effects of the different molecular geometries and polarizabilities of the liquid crystalline cores on mesophase stability are discussed, particularly in relation to other members of this series. The chiral nematic phase of the propanonitriles is assigned as having a left-handed twist sense from contact preparation studies, and this is in agreement with rules relating absolute configuration and molecular structure to helical twist sense.     

Mesophase characterization of some long chain vicinal multihydroxy amphiphiles [1,2]

The mesophase characterization of three stereoisomeric multihydroxy compounds, the 1, 2(S), 3(R), 4(R)-, 1, 2(R), 3(S), 4(R)-, and 1, 2(S), 3(S), 4(R)-ico-sanetetrols, as well as of an octadecafuranose derivative has been carried out by means of polarizing microscopy, X-ray diffraction etc. The four multiols with their very long flexible alkyl chains are mono-thermomesomorphic; their single mesophases are miscible with each other, with a typical carbohydrate derivative, and are characterized by X-ray diffraction having a layer structure without order in it. The phase transition data of the three icosanetetrols are strongly dependent on their stereochemistry. The measurements of the refractive indices of one of the tetrols show a typical behaviour known for S_A phases or for lamellar phases, i.e. the sign of the birefringence is positive.