Macroscopic expression of the chirality of amino alcohols by a double amplification mechanism in liquid crystalline media

The central chirality of simple amino alcohols was amplified by binding to a dynamically axially chiral biphenol receptor and expressed as supramolecular chirality by effecting a change from a nematic to a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase.     

Photoinduced chirality in achiral liquid crystalline polymethacrylates containing bisazobenzene and azobenzene chromophores

One new liquid crystalline polymer containing bisazobenzene, poly[4-{(2-methacryloyloxyethyl)oxy}-4′-(4-nitrophenylazo)azobenzene] (PM2BAN), and two liquid crystalline polymers containing azobenzenes with spacers of two and six methylene units, poly[(4-(4′-nitrophenylazo)phenyloxy)x-methylene methacrylate] (PMxAN, x = 2, 6), were synthesized and characterized. The level and rate of photoinduced chirality were studied in films of the achiral polymers by irradiation with one handed circularly polarized light (CPL) at 442 nm. The results of circular dichroism (CD) suggest that left-CPL induces left helical arrangements of the polymers and right-CPL reverses the resulting arrangements into right helices. Photoinduced chirality in film of PM2BAN is increased with the increase of irradiation time. However, the level and rate of photoinduced chirality in film of PM2BAN are lower than those in films of PMxAN (x = 2, 6) at similar irradiation time. Compared with PM2AN, photoinduced CD values are higher in PM6AN. The results are discussed in terms of interactions between azobenzene chromophores and circularly polarized light.     

Stable molecular configuration in crystalline carboxylic acids

The stable (lower enthalpy) molecular configurations of propionic, butyric, Jeric and lauric acids in the crystalline state have been examined via their atom-atom potentials. It was found that the cis configuration is more stable than the trans configuration for propionic, butyric and valeric acids, and that the trans configuration is more stable than the cis configuration for lauric acid, in accord with a previous IR spectral analysis. The potential energy of benzoic acid was recalculated using the positions of atoms given by Speakman, and indicates that the A form is more stable than the B form, in agreement with the results of previous work.     

Photoinduced chirality in achiral liquid crystalline azobenzene polymers containing different polar side groups

Circular dichroism (CD) was induced in the films of two achiral liquid crystalline polymers, poly[(4′-(6-(methacryloyloxy)hexyl)oxy)-(4-X)azobenzene] (PM6X, X = C and N for cyano and nitro, respectively), by irradiation with one handed circularly polarized light (CPL) at 442 nm. The CD and UV spectra of the polymeric films suggest that left-CPL induces a left helical structure and right-CPL reverses the resulting structure into a right helix. For PM6C, the photoinduced CD values of the nematic film are much higher than in the casting and isotropic film. The photoinduced chirality of PM6C films is higher than PM6N due to a higher polarity of nitro groups in PM6N. The PM6N’s CD intensity around 450 nm is increased with the irradiation time of linearly polarized light (LPL) followed by left-CPL irradiation. The correlation between azobenzene chromophores and circularly polarized light will be discussed in the paper.     

Self-assembled liquid crystalline materials with fatty acids

Two new series of liquid crystalline materials with non-mesomorphic fatty acids, viz. nonanoic (C₉), capric (C₁₀), undecanoic (C₁₁), tridecanoic (C₁₃), myristic (C₁₄), palmitic (C₁₆) and stearic acids (C₁₈), are prepared with non-mesomorphic proton acceptors, viz. (4-pyridyl)-benzylidene-p-n-alkylanilines (PyBnA; n = 12 and 16). The smectic phase structures formed between the proton donor (fatty acid) and proton acceptor moieties are found due to the intermolecular hydrogen bonding (HB) and are monotropic. The presence of HB is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in all the compounds. The characteristic optical textures of smectic phases are observed through polarizing optical microscope, provided with a hot stage and a camera. The phase transition temperatures and the enthalpy changes across the phase transitions are determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The smectic phase exhibited by the HB complexes is confirmed by miscibility studies as smectic-B. The π–π stacking interactions in layers are found to influence the mesomorphism in these HB complexes.     

Supramolecular chirality in crystalline assemblies of bile acids and their derivatives; three-axial, tilt, helical, and bundle chirality

Steroidal bile acids and their derivatives exhibit characteristic inclusion behaviors in the crystalline state. Their crystals present varied assemblies due to asymmetric molecular structures, which relate to supramolecular properties through cooperative weak interactions. An overview indicates that the steroidal assemblies lie in an intermediate position among various molecules and have hierarchical structures such as primary, secondary, tertiary, and host-guest assemblies like proteins. Such an interpretation brought about the idea that the assemblies with dimensionality present supramolecular chirality such as three-axial, tilt, helical, bundle, and complementary chirality. This concept of the supramolecular chirality enables us to understand formation of chiral crystals starting from the molecular chirality of the steroidal molecules.     

Solubility ofp-phenylazophenol in low molecular weight liquid crystalline precursors

Freezing point temperatures for binary mixtures containing phenylazophenol (PAP) with p-(p-methoxyphenylazo)phenol (MOPAP), p-(p-ethylphenylazo)phenol (EPAP) and p-(p-ethoxyphenylazo)phenol (EOPAP) have been experimentally determined using differential scanning calorimetry. Enthalpies and entropies of fusion for the four phenylazophenol derivatives were also measured. Results of these measurements indicate that the three binary systems exhibit only slight deviations from ideality at temperatures between the melting points of the pure components. Deviations become more pronounced in the PAP+EOPAP system as the temperature decreases below the melting pont of the ethoxy-derivative.     

Fast-switching ferrolectric liquid crystalline polymers containing one or two centres of chirality in the side chain

In a liquid crystalline side chain polyacrylate containing one center of chirality in the terminal alkyl chain of the mesogenic part, switching times of 200–400 μs were measured in the SmC^* phase. Below this phase an unidentified phase exists, which shows electroclinic-like switching. The phase transition between those two phases can be shifted by applying an electric field. At higher molecular weights three subphases emerge in the SmC^* region. Variation of the spacer length revealed, for the first time, ferroelectric switching even at a spacer length of only two CH₂ groups. By shifting the centre of chirality into the spacer of the side group a polymer resulted, which shows electroclinic switching in the SmC^* phase, changing to ferroelectric switching when the voltage is increased. Incorporation of an oxirane ring as chiral building block into the spacer yielded a polymer that shows a sign inversion of the spontaneous polarization in the SmC^* phase. A polymer containing a dioxolane carbonic ester as chiral unit exhibits three switching states, with the third state existing at a low or zero electric field. This phenomenon is known for antiferroelectric liquid crystals. By doping a racemic LC polymer with a chiral monomeric LC we induced a spontaneous polarization. Colored FLC polymers were obtained by two different approaches. In an FLC–dye copolymer, increasing switching speed in three different chiral smectic phases was observed when increasing the dye concentration.     

Kerr-effect in solutions and molecular polarity of liquid crystalline fluorenes

As part of a broader study of liquid crystal polymers with side groups containing fluorene moieties, more information was required about the properties of fluorene derivatives. With this aim in mind, the solution Kerr-effects for five fluorene-based mesogens have been measured and used in conjunction with other results to determine the polarizability anisotropies and dipole moments.     

Layer frustration, polar order and chirality in liquid crystalline phases of silyl-terminated achiral bent-core molecules

A novel class of bent-core molecules with oligo(siloxane) or carbosilane units at both ends was synthesized and the self-organization of these molecules was investigated by polarizing microscopy, DSC, X-ray scattering, dielectric and electrooptical methods. Depending on the size of the silicon-containing segments, smectic and columnar liquid crystalline phases are formed. Most smectic phases are low birefringent and composed of macroscopic domains of opposite handedness (dark conglomerate phases). The switching process in these smectic phases is surface stabilized ferroelectric and, depending on the conditions, two distinct slow relaxation processes to nonpolar structures were observed. It is proposed that the smectic phases are built up by chiral and polar SmCsPF layer stacks which are separated by anticlinic interfaces. If the size of these layer stacks is sufficiently large a coupling to the substrate surfaces takes place and ferroelectric switching is observed. It is also suggested that the sponge-like layer distortion, occurring in the low birefringent mesophases, is due to an escape from the local polar order within these SmCsPF layer stacks. For compounds with larger silylated units a steric frustration arises, which leads to layer modulation (columnar ribbon phases) and this is associated with a transition from ferroelectric to antiferroelectric switching. All compounds show a switching of the molecules around the long axis which reverses the layer chirality.     

Switching of chirality from racemic to homochiral state in new liquid crystalline monomers with bent-core molecules

The synthesis and physical properties of bent-shaped molecules with ester linkages and methoxy substitution on a non-central ring are presented. Terminal chains of most mesogens contain a group with double bond, which promotes polymerization. In all the compounds studied a B₂ phase just below the isotropic phase has been found. Polarization current profiles indicate that this phase is antiferroelectric, and dielectric spectroscopy data with a pronounced high frequency mode support this fact. For several compound chirality switching from racemic to the homochiral state was seen after application of a low frequency a.c. field. Another phase, which could be assigned to the B₇ family, appears below the B₂ phase on cooling.     

High pressure optical studies of the chirality and phase behaviour of liquid crystalline blue phases

The blue phase (BP) polymorphism of chiral S -(+)-4-(2-methylbutyl)phenyl-4-decyloxy benzoate (CE6) and S -(+)-4-(2-methylbutyl)phenyl-4-dodecyloxy benzoate (CE7) was studied at elevated transition pressures up to 280MPa using optical activity measurements. The increased density causes an increase in phase chirality which in the case of CE6 manifests itself in the disappearance of BP II (BP I-BP II-BP III triple point) and in the case of CE7 in the appearance of BP II. At atmospheric pressure, CE6 exhibits BP I, BP II and BP III, while CE7 only possesses BP I. This pressure behaviour of CE6 and CE7 is contrary to that of cholesteryl nonanoate, which has been investigated previously. This result is particularly interesting when discussed in connection with the effect of elongation of the terminal n alkylcarboxy chain of the cholesteryl n -alkanoates and of the terminal n -alkyloxy chain in the homologous series to which CE6 and CE7 belong. In the first case the phase chirality increases; in the second case it decreases. Since CE6 shows an obvious pretransitional optical activity in its isotropic liquid phase, pretransition and BP phase behaviour could be compared with each other at elevated transition pressures and temperatures. For those transition pressures or temperatures where anomalies in the BP phase behaviour occur, anomalies in the pretransition behaviour are also observed.     

Thermal and photochemical transformation of conformational chirality into configurational chirality in the crystalline state

Because they crystallize in chiral conformations in which abstraction of only one of two diastereotopic gamma-hydrogen atoms is possible, salts formed between achiral keto-acids possessing the tricyclo[4.4.1.0]undecane ring system and optically pure amines undergo Norrish type II cleavage in the solid state in enantiomeric excesses as high as 95% at 98% conversion, following removal of the ionic chiral auxiliaries. Thermal enolene rearrangement of the same salts results in optical yields approximately half those observed for the photochemical reaction.     

Amplification of chirality in liquid crystals

The amplification of molecular chirality by liquid crystalline systems is widely applied in investigations towards enantioselective solvent-solute interactions, chiral supramolecular assemblies, smart materials, and the development of liquid crystal displays. Here we present an overview of recent achievements in the development of new chiral dopant systems for the generation of cholesteric liquid crystalline phases. Based on a distinction between shape-persistent and bistable dopants, several dopant classes will be discussed.     

Estimation of ground- and excited-state dipole moments of oxazine 1 in liquid and liquid crystalline media

A portable remote Raman instrument for field analysis has been developed. This instrument has been tested in the Arctic conditions during AMASE (Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition) campaigns 2007, 2008 and 2009. Besides its capability for mineral detection the remote system proved to be a very useful tool for ice structural analysis of icebergs and ice-wall in glaciers. For the first time at our knowledge Arctic ice has been analyzed in situ in different conditions and at distances ranging from 10 to 120m. The spectra obtained have enough quality to be used for quantitative spectral analysis.     

Simple transformation of crystalline chiral natural anions to liquid medium and their use to induce chirality

New chiral ionic liquids can be prepared simply by combining the tetra-n-hexyl-dimethylguanidinium cation with readily available chiral anions and used as an asymmetric inducing agent as demonstrated for catalytic Rh(II) carbenoid C-H insertion and Sharpless dihydroxylation.     

A viscometric study of the liquid crystalline phase of alkyloxybenzoic acids

The viscosities of three benzoic acid derivatives (p-n-heptyloxy-, p-n-decyloxy-, and p-n-dodecyloxy-) were measured on a unique viscometer of the class of CS-rheometer-viscometers with controlled shear stress over the whole temperature range of the liquid crystalline state. Shear rates were calculated and flow and viscosity curves constructed from the experimental shear stress values taking into account the Rabinovich-Moony correction. The smectic and nematic phases were characterized by non-Newton and Newton viscosities, respectively, in all the samples studied. The activation parameters of viscous flow were calculated for Newton viscosity. The results are discussed in terms of intermolecular interactions and structural peculiarities of liquid crystalline phases.     

Influencing factors on liquid crystalline properties of cholesterol side-chain liquid crystalline polymers without spacer: molecular weight and copolymerisation

ABSTRACT

It is a challenge to tailor the phase behavior and phase structure of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers carrying targeted ordered structures and functional properties. In this work, liquid crystalline (LC) properties of cholesterol side-chain polymers without spacer were controlled by molecular weight (M_n) and copolymerization. On the one hand, two series of homopolymers without the spacer, poly (methacrylic acid) cholesterol esters (PCholMC_n) and poly (acrylic acid) cholesterol esters (PCholAC_n) with different M_n and low polydispersity, were achieved by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The experiment results indicated that the M_n had little effect on the LC properties of PCholMC_n and all homopolymers formed the smectic A phase. However, the phase structures of PCholAC were found to be strongly M_n dependent. The polymers PCholAC_n were amorphous when the M_n was lower than a critical value of approximately 1210₃ g/mol. But when the M_n exceeded the critical value, the polymers exhibited smectic A phase. On the other hand, two kinds of random copolymers, poly(cholest-5-en-3-methacrylate)-co-polymethyl acrylate (PCholMC-co-MA) and poly(cholest-5-en-3-acrylate)-co-polymethyl acrylate (PCholAC-co-MA) were synthesized with various composition. The findings suggested that the steric effect of main-chain and the interaction of mesogens would promote the formation of LC phase.     

Effect of molecular chirality on racemate stability: alpha-amino acids with nonpolar R groups

A racemate of two opposite and resolvable enantiomers is generally assumed to be more stable than the corresponding conglomerate. Demonstrating this structure-stability relation, however, has proved difficult owing to a sampling bias (data available only for systems whose racemates are stable enough to exist) and a possible kinetic bias (racemates may be easier to crystallize than conglomerates from racemic media). As a new approach to studying the relation, we determined how the relative stability of the conglomerate and the racemate changes with the molecule's degree of chirality in a series of alpha-amino acids with nonpolar R groups. We found that the excess energy of the conglomerate over the racemate, (E(C) - E(R)), increases with the size of the R group, a measure of the molecule's chirality. If valid in general, this relation demonstrates a tendency for chiral molecules to form racemates rather than conglomerates. Because of the entropy effect on crystal stability, however, the excess free energy of the conglomerate over the racemate, (G(C) - G(R)), shows no simple relation with the degree of chirality at the temperatures of study (-3 to 180 degrees C).