Side chain cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers: synthesis and phase behaviour

A series of new side chain cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers (P-2–P-6) containing the nematic crosslinking monomer 4-(10-undecen-1-yloyloxy)benzoyl-4′-allyloxybenzoyl-p-benzenediol bisate (M-1) and the cholesteric monomer 4-cholesteryl 4-(10-undecen-1-yloyloxy)benzoate (M-2) were synthesized. The chemical structures of the monomers and elastomers obtained were confirmed by FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Their liquid crystalline properties and phase behaviour were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The effect of the crosslinking units on phase behaviour is discussed. Elastomers containing less than 20?mol?% of the crosslinking units showed elasticity, reversible phase transitions and cholesteric Grandjean texture. The experimental results demonstrated that the glass transition and isotropization temperatures of P-2–P-6 increased with the increasing concentration of crosslinking unit M-1.     

Synthesis and characterization of side chain cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers derived from chiral bisolefinic crosslinking units

In this work we prepared a nematic monomer (4′‐allyloxybiphenyl 4′‐ethoxybenzoate, M₁ ), a chiral crosslinking agent (isosorbide 4‐allyloxybenzoyl bisate, M₂ ) and a series of new side chain cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers derived from M₁ and M₂ . The chemical structures of the monomers and polymers were confirmed by FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The mesomorphic properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The effect of the content of the crosslinking unit on phase behaviour of the elastomers is discussed. Polymer P₁ showed a nematic phase, P₂ –P₇ showed a cholesteric phase; P₆ formed a blue Grandjean texture over a broad temperature range 145–209.6°C, with no changed on the cooling. Polymers P₄ –P₇ , with more than 6?mol?% of chiral crosslinking agent, gave rise to selective reflection. Elastomers containing less than 15?mol?% of the crosslinking units displayed elasticity, reversible phase transition with wide mesophase temperature ranges, and high thermal stability. Experimental results demonstrated that, with increasing content of crosslinking agent, the glass transition temperatures first fell and then increased; the isotropization temperatures and mesophase temperature ranges decreased.     

An experimental investigation of electromechanical coupling in cholesteric liquid crystals

Abstract

Cholesteric liquid crystals which have a helical arrangement of oriented chiral molecules are expected to show novel cross couplings between fluxes and forces. The most convincing demonstration of these couplings is through a dynamical effect on the structure. Though Lehmann found a rotation of the structure under a temperature gradient in 1900, there has been no subsequent experiment confirming the same. We argue that it is very difficult to obtain a sufficiently weak anchoring of the director at the solid-cholesteric interface which is a necessary condition for the occurrence of Lehmann rotation. In order to achieve a practically zero anchoring energy at the surface, we have devised a simple technique of floating essentially flat cholesteric drops in the isotropic phase. Using this configuration we study the electromechanical coupling which produces a rotation of the structure under the action of a DC electric field. Using measurements on samples with different values of the pitch the relevant electromechanical coefficient of the materials investigated is found to satisfy the relation v _E = ?0·6 × 10^?12(q/m^?1)J m^?2, where q is the wavevector of the helix, whose sign is positive (negative) for a right (left) handed structure, confirming that v _E is hydrodynamic in origin.     

A study of the induced helical pitch in a reentrant nematic mixture

Abstract

The temperature dependence of the induced helical pitch is reported for cholesteric and reentrant cholesteric phases of liquid crystal systems comprising 4-n-hexyloxy and 4-n-octyloxy-4′-cyanobiphenyl with a non-mesogenic optically active dopant. It was found that on adding small quantities of the dopant that the temperature range of the S_A phase is narrowed and subsequently disappears, while short range smectic fluctuations persist, influencing the helical twisting features. Critical index values were determined from the temperature dependence of the pitch.     

Synthesis and properties of chiral stilbene diacrylates

Two chiral and isomerizable liquid crystalline diacrylates were synthesized. The purpose of these compounds was to tune the helical twisting power of cholesteric materials containing these compounds by means of an E–Z photoisomerization of the photoactive group derived from stilbene. The photochemical behaviour of these compounds was studied with the aid of two model compounds containing the same isomerizable mesogenic group. The mesogenic group derived from 4-(4-hydroxybenzoyloxy)-4′-hydroxystilbene decomposes upon irradiation. Its isomer, derived from 4-(4-hydroxyphenoxycarbonyl)-4′-hydroxystilbene, shows a clean E–Zisomerization. The HTP of the chiral diacrylate derived from the latter mesogenic group changes from 7 to 3 μm^-1 in dilute nematic solution. Colour changes in a cholesteric material containing this compound were observed. The effect was very dependent on temperature and concentration due to the strong smectic character of this diacrylate.     

Reaction of 4-(2′-Hydroxyaryl)-1,3-dithiolium Salts with Sodium Sulfide. A Selective Synthesis of 2′-Hydroxyacetophenones

Abstract

The treatment of 4-(2′-hydroxyaryl)-2-(N,N-dialkylamino)-1,3-dithiolium perchlorates (1a–g) with sodium sulfide nonahydrate in ethanol at room temperature affords the corresponding 1,3-dithiole-2-thiones (2a–g). When these reactions are conducted in boiling ethanol, 2′-hydroxyacetophenones (3a–g) have been obtained in good to excellent yield. A tentative mechanism for the formation of 3a–g shows that this reaction is regioselective, this being established by the presence of hydroxyl group in 2′-position. That has been confirmed in a control experiment, 4-phenyl-2-(piperidin-1-yl)-1,3-dithiolium perchlorate affording a mixture of condensation products of acetophenone and phenylacetaldehyde, under similar reaction conditions.     

All-trans 2,7-dialkylperhydrophenanthrene as a solvent for measurements of helical twisting power and linear dichroism

Abstract

The values of twisting power of a chiral bridged binaphthyl and (+)-trans-stilbene oxide in a rigid hydrocarbon perhydrophenanthrene nematic are much smaller than in conformationally flexible nematics, indicating the importance of the solvent structure for cholesteric induction. The perhydrophenanthrene phase constitutes an excellent solvent for linear dichroism measurements of anthracene but it is unable to orient 9,9′-spirobifluorene.     

Potassium-ion-selective sensing based on selective reflection of cholesteric liquid crystal membranes

It is well-known that cholesteric liquid crystals have an optical property, selective reflection, due to changes in the pitch of their helical structure. This unique property of cholesteric liquid crystals can be used to attain a visual sensing system showing color changes as the detection signal. In this paper, we report a visual sensing membrane comprising cholesteric liquid crystals, in which a 15-crown-5 derivative was incorporated as ion recognizing sites, for K⁺ in aqueous solution. The resulting CLC membrane showed a shift of the reflection peak sensitive to K⁺ in water. We have also designed polymer-dispersed liquid crystal membranes that showed ion-selective reflection peak shifts with improved response time.     

New ylidene and spirocyclopropyl derivatives of cholestanone and dehydroepiandrosterone series and their ability to induce cholesteric mesophase in nematic solvent

New ylidene and spirocyclopropyl derivatives of cholestanone and dehydroepiandrosterone series were synthesized and their structure was determined by X-ray analysis. These compounds may be used as chiral dopants for cholesteric liquid crystal compositions which are applied in bistable displays with low power consumption. The ability of the synthesized substances to induce cholesteric mesophase in 4′-pentyl-1,1′-biphenyl-4-carbоnitrile nematic solvent was examined. The highest values of the helical twisting power |β| (190.0?±?2.3) and (165.5?±?1.9) µm^?1 mol pats^?1 were showed by (E)-2-{[3-(1,1′-biphenyl-4-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]methyldene}-cholestanon and (1S,2S)-1-(1-phenyl-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-yl)-2,16′-spirocyclopropyldehydroepiandrosterone, correspondingly.     

Temperature dependence of the phase separation in ethyl cyanoethyl cellulose/poly(acrylic acid)/4′‐n‐pentyl‐4‐cyano‐biphenyl composite films

A novel polymer‐dispersed liquid‐crystal film consisting of micrometer‐scale liquid‐crystal droplets in ultraviolet‐cured polymer composite matrices with cholesteric order was prepared and the influence of cure temperature on the phase separation was studied. The existence and pitch of the ethyl cyanoethyl cellulose cholesteric liquid‐crystalline phase were influenced by the existence of low molecular weight liquid crystals. The macromolecular cholesteric phase disappeared when the 4′‐n‐pentyl‐4‐cyano‐biphenyl concentration was over 40 wt %, and 4′‐n‐pentyl‐4‐cyano‐biphenyl domains were dispersed in the isotropic matrix of the polymer composite. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1334–1341, 2002     

Anomalous light scattering in photonic cholesteric liquid crystals

ABSTRACT

We have carried out polarisation and angle-resolved measurements of the light scattered from photonic cholesteric liquid crystals. Both in samples doped with laser dyes and in inactive (non-doped) samples we have observed pronounced directional dependences of the scattered light, finding angular ranges where the scattering is greatly enhanced and regions where the effect is almost suppressed. Moreover, the total amount of scattered light has also been found to depend strongly on the polarisation and direction of the incident beam. All the results have been interpreted successfully in terms of a simple expression proposed for the scattering cross section, in which the density of states of the ingoing and outgoing beams plays a major role. The expression would be applicable not only to cholesteric liquid crystals but to any one-dimensional photonic material.     

Photocontrolled Phase Transitions and Reflection Behaviors of Smectic Liquid Crystals by a Chiral Azobenzene

The photocontrolled phase transitions and reflection behaviors of a smectic liquid crystal, 4‐octyl‐4′‐cyanobiphenyl (8CB), tuned by a chiral azobenzene, are systematically investigated. For the smectic 8CB doped with the chiral azobenzene (1R)‐(?)‐4‐n‐hexyl‐4′‐menthylazobenzene (ABE), the initial smectic phase can be switched to cholesteric and then to isotropic upon UV irradiation due to the trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization of ABE; however, no reflection band is observed. For the smectic 8CB doped with ABE and the chiral agent (S)‐(?)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diol (BN), a reflection band located in the short‐wavelength infrared region is observed, which disappears after further UV irradiation. For the smectic 8CB doped with ABE and a chiral agent with higher helical twisting power, (S)‐2,2′‐methylendioxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene (DBN), a phototunable system with cholesteric pitch short enough to reflect visible light is demonstrated. With a given concentration of the chiral dopant DBN, a reversible reflection color transition is realized tuned by the isomerization of azobenzene. The reverse phase transition from isotropic to cholesteric and then to smectic can be recovered upon visible irradiation. The photocontrolled phase transitions in smectic liquid crystals and the corresponding changes in reflection band switched by photoisomerization of azobenzene may provide impetus for their practical application in optical memories, displays, and switches.     

β-Cyclodextrin catalyzed one-pot four component auspicious protocol for synthesis of spiro[acridine-9,3′-indole]-2′,4,4′(1′H,5′H,10H)-trione as a potential antimicrobial agent

We have developed an perceptive and facile approach for the synthesis of new spiro[acridine-9,3′-indole]-2′,4,4′(1′H,5′H,10H)-trione derivatives (4a–t) by one-pot four component condensation involving two equivalence of dimedone (1), substituted anilines (2a–t), and isatin (3) catalyzed by β-cyclodextrin in water within short reaction time at 80?°C in good to excellent yields. We believe that this novel procedure may open the door for the easy generation of new and bioactive spiro[acridine-9,3′-indole]-2′,4,4′(1′H,5′H,10H)-triones. The most exciting feature of this methodology is its mechanism involving the unusual ring opening of an isatin moiety followed by recyclization. Synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against four bacteria and three fungi. All the spirooxindole derivatives exhibited significant antibacterial activity against bacteria and fungi. Among 20 compounds screened, compound (4i) and (4h) was found to be more active against tested bacterial strain.     

The influence of pretransitional phenomena on blue phase range

Abstract

The particular phase in which a liquid crystal system will exist is that which has the lowest free energy at a certain temperature. The free energy may depend on variables such as temperature, pressure, chirality, etc. One way in which the stability of a particular thermodynamic phase, relative to its neighbours, would be manifest is in its temperature range. The effect of chirality, in particular, on the temperature range or stability of blue phases has been well-studied both experimentally and theoretically. To date these studies assume that chirality is the only parameter which will influence the existence of blue phases. However, blue phases with relatively low chirality and broad range, which should in principle only show very narrow blue phases, have been reported. This suggests that factors other than chirality are involved in blue phase stability. In this paper we investigate the phase stability of various blue phase mixtures containing equal amounts of a chiral dopant, via their blue phase temperature range. Correlation between blue phase stability and the elastic constants k ₂ and k ₂₂, molecular length of the nematic host, and the order parameter at the blue phase to cholesteric transition is discussed. We have confirmed that for our mixtures the total blue phase temperature range may be related equally to the elastic constant k ₂₂ and the chirality. We also present the first data displaying an odd-even effect in blue phases. Finally, we have found an apparent correlation between the stability of the blue phases and the magnitude of the orientational order parameter of the cholesteric phase at the cholesteric to blue phase transition.     

Optical and mesomorphic properties characterisation of chiral liquid crystalline copolysiloxane exhibiting cholesteric and blue phases

A series of liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) have been synthesised by two cholesteric monomers M₁, M₂ and a nematic monomer M₃. The chemical structures and liquid crystalline properties of the monomers and polymers have been characterised by FTIR, ¹H-NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analyses, X-ray diffraction measurements and polarising optical microscopy. All LCPs show a high thermal stability with wide mesophase temperature ranges. For polymer P₁ bearing only cholesteric LC monomers component, it shows a cholesteric phase, whereas others display a blue phase besides a cholesteric phase. The formation of the blue phase is based on the structures of the polymers and the produced biaxial helix. The glass transition temperature and isotropic temperature of the polymers decrease on heating cycle with increasing the content of M₃ in the polymers. The specific rotation values of the polymers are temperature-sensitive. The reflection spectra of polymers P₁–P₆ show that the maximum reflected wavelengths shift to long wavelength with increasing the content of M₃ in the polymer systems. The frequency and intensity of the bands change sharply at the temperature where cholesteric phase changes to blue phase, but they show a weak dependence on temperature in the blue phase.     

Amphiphilic cholesteric liquid crystals prepared from the quaternary ammonium surfactant S-(−)-1-hexadecyl-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanol bromide

Abstract

We describe the first successful attempt to produce amphiphilic cholesteric liquid crystals using a chiral quaternary ammonium surfactant, namely S-(?)-1-hexadecyl-1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinemethanol bromide. Only amphiphilic cholesteric liquid crystal samples were made where the micelle structure is related to disc shaped micelles in the achiral N_D phase. The surfactant concentration dependence of the twist and the temperature dependence of the twist were made using laser diffraction. The twist in the amphiphilic cholesteric liquid crystal samples was too small to produce total iridescence.     

Hydrostatic pressure effects on polymer cholesteric liquid-crystalline structure. I. Equilibrium structure of hydroxypropyl cellulose aqueous solution

Abstract

The effect of pressure on the polymer cholesteric liquid-crystalline structure of hydroxypropyl cellulose aqueous solutions was studied using reflection spectra measurements. Pressures applied to the polymer liquid crystals ranged from 1 to 2000 bar. The equilibrium reflection spectrum of the cholesteric structure shifted to longer wavelengths, showing that the cholesteric pitch of the liquid-crystalline structure increases as the applied pressure increases. At pressures higher than 200 bar the maximum wavelength of reflection shifted linearly with the increase in applied pressure. At lower pressures, the cholesteric structure was influenced by the surface plane of the quartz window.     

The effect of different arms on the properties of chiral branched-arm liquid crystals based on isosorbide as the chiral core

A new series of two-arm ( MA₁ , MA₂ ), four-arm ( MA₃ ) and six-arm ( MA₄ ) chiral liquid crystalline compounds containing isosorbide as the chiral core were synthesised. Four precursors of branched-arm A₁–A₄ were first obtained, and then were esterised separately with isosorbide to obtain four chiral branched-arm liquid crystals ( MA₁–MA₄ ). The structure and properties have been characterised. The results show that MA₁ was smectic–cholesteric phase with a fan-like and oily streak texture; MA₂–MA₄ showed a cholesteric phase with oily streak texture, or lined texture and finger print texture. Isosorbide successfully induced a cholesteric phase. The melting point and clearing point values for MA₁–MA₄ first increased and then decreased. The branched-arm and chiral core quantity affected the liquid crystalline properties. At the same time, the difference in side-arms resulted in different directions of rotation. MA₁–MA₂ showed right-handed rotation and had selective reflection; MA₃–MA₄ demonstrated left-handed rotation and did not have selective reflection.     

Synthesis,characterization, and crystal structures of two Ag (I) coordination polymers based on biphenyl-2,2′,4,4′-tetracarboxylate

In this article, [Ag₈(btc)₂(2,2′-bpy)₂] _n (1) and [Ag₄(btc)(phen)₂] _n (2) (H₄btc?=?biphenyl-2,2′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic acid, 2,2′-bpy?=?2,2′-bipyridine, phen?=?1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, thermogravimetric analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 shows a 3-D framework containing a 2-D bilayer network constructed from (btc)^4? with Ag (I), whereas 2 features a 2-D supramolecular bilayer network. The differences of the two complexes demonstrate that nitrogen-containing chelating ligands have a significant effect on the formation and structure of the resulting complexes. Electrochemistry properties of 1 were also studied.