Twin‐like domains in chiral smectic C liquid crystals

In the chiral smectic C phase of liquid crystals with the phase transition N*–SmC*, texture development depending on the sample thickness is reported. In very thin samples, domains of rectangular‐like shape are observed. As two possible tilts of smectic layers are possible for one anchoring direction, smectic layers inside a domain, called twin‐like domains, are tilted with respect to layers in outer regions, similarly to crystalline planes in solid crystalline twins. An elastic model of such a twin domain is proposed and its energy determined.     

Synthesis of novel chiral stationary phases for high-performance liquid chromatography

Three novel chiral selectors 4a-c were synthesized from(S)-amino acids and(R)-1-phenyl-2-(4-methylphenyl)ethylamine.4a-cwere connected to 3-aminopropylsilanized silica gel to be used as the chiral stationary phase for HPLC.Five amino acid derivativesand two pyrethroid insecticides were fairly resolved on these three new chiral stationary phases under normal phase condition.     

Synthesis and properties of (−)-menthol-derived chiral liquid crystals by introducing adipoyloxy spacer between mesogenic core and chiral menthyl

A homologous series of new chiral liquid crystal compounds, M6BnB (n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18), with varying length of n-alkoxy chains at one end, was formed by covalently linking a chiral (?)-menthyl with biphenyl-benzoate via adipoyloxy spacer group. A combination of analysis methods such as Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR spectra, differential scanning calorimetry, polarised optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction was carried out to systematically investigate their phase structures and phase transition behaviours. The length of the flexible terminal alkoxy group has a profound influence on the clearing points (T_iso) and T_iso decrease with the increase of alkoxy chain (n). In addition, increasing the length of the terminal alkoxy group tends to narrow the temperature range of the N* phase and favour the development of chiral smectic C phase.     

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.     

Luminescent fluorinated chiral liquid crystalline oligomers containing Eu(III) complexes

Luminescent ?uorinated chiral liquid crystalline oligomers containing Eu(III) complexes (Eu-LCOs) with good liquid crystalline properties and obvious luminescence properties were prepared using Poly(methylhydrogeno)siloxane (PMHS), chiral liquid crystalline monomer (M₁), ?uorinated liquid crystalline monomer (M₂), ?uorinated Eu(III) complex (M₃). The chemical structures, liquid crystalline behaviours of Eu-LCOs were characterised by various experimental techniques. The introduction of small quantity of ?uorinated Eu(III) complexes endowed the oligomers with excellent luminescence properties. The Eu(III) complexes did not change the liquid crystalline textures of the oligomers. Fourier transform infrared imaging showed that Eu(III) complexes were evenly distributed in oligomers. In order to express the mutual effect and distribution of the components, a structural representation of Eu-LCOs was established. The Eu-LCOs displayed wide mesophase temperature ranges and reversible mesomorphic phase transitions. The Eu-LCOs can emit soft red light when being excited. Luminescence intensities of Eu-LCOs gradually increased with an increase of Eu(III) complexes from 0 to 1.0 mol%. However, the luminescence intensities of Eu-LCOs decreased monotonically with the increase of temperature in liquid crystalline phase.     

Rheological properties of chiral liquid crystals possessing a cholesteric–smectic A transition

We have measured the rheological properties of two cholesterol derivatives (cholesteryl myristate and cholesteryl nonanoate) in the vicinity of their cholesteric–smecticA transitions. The results for the two compounds differ qualitatively, and are in agreement with results based on optical observations of new defects in cholesteryl nonanoate showing that this material, traditionally considered as a typical cholesteric, in fact exhibits a TGBA phase between the cholesteric and smectic A phases.     

Applying click chemistry to synthesis of chiral [1,2,3]‐triazole liquid crystals

1,3‐Dipolar cycloaddition of organic azides to triple bonds, or ‘click chemistry’ has been used in order to obtain chiral 1,4‐disubstituted [1,2,3]‐triazoles. Liquid crystalline compounds bearing such heterocycles were prepared and SmA and N* (cholesteric) phases identified. Contact experiments indicated a right‐handed helix (RH‐helix) for the cholesteric phase, and attempts to corroborate experimental and theoretical results are presented.     

X-ray diffraction analysis of the layer structure in a ferroelectric liquid crystal with a chiral nematic–chiral smectic C phase transition

A half-V-shaped switching ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) is a promising candidate for fast response displays. In the half-V FLC display, a liquid crystal with a chiral nematic–chiral smectic C phase transition is used, and the smectic layer is formed by cooling from N* to SmC* with an applied d.c. field. We studied the layer structure by means of X-ray measurements for two axes (ω and χ). By using a point-focused X-ray tube and optimizing the slit width, we succeeded in the two-axis measurement with a commercial X-ray system. The ω–χ profile of the half-V FLC showed two broad peaks in an arc-shaped high-intensity area. Our interpretation of this result is that the major part of the layer consists of a tilted-bookshelf structure and that the minor part consists of a near-bookshelf structure. Since optical microscopy observations on the half-V FLC cells showed a stripe-shaped texture, we consider that the coexistence of the tilted-bookshelf and the near-bookshelf structures forms the stripe-shaped patterns. The radius of the arc-shaped high-intensity area was nearly equal to the molecular tilt angle. This result can explain why the half-V FLC showed a desirable black appearance in spite of the stripe-shaped texture.     

Synthesis and self-assembled nanostructures of novel chiral amphiphilic liquid crystals containing β-d-galactopyranoside end-groups

The present work arises from the significant difference between the experimental Landau tricritical point (LTCP) in the Sm A-to-N phase transition in binary mixtures of butyloxybenzylidene octylaniline (4O.8) and hexyloxybenzylidene octylaniline (6O.8) predicted by Stine and Garland, and that arising from the thermodynamic assessment using the Oonk's Equal Gibbs Curve method. By use of specific heat measurements the 4O.8 + 6O.8, phase diagram has been determined anew. The results of the subsequent application of Oonk's thermodynamic analysis are discussed and their compatibility with the behaviour universally exhibited by other liquid crystal binary mixtures for which a LTCP in the SmA-to-N phase transition has been experimentally determined are analysed.     

Side-chain cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers containing isosorbide as chiral agent – synthesis and characterisation

In this work the new-style nematic monomer M₁ , chiral crosslinking reagent M_C and a series of new side-chain cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers derived from M₁ and M_C were prepared. The effect of the content of the chiral crosslinking unit on phase behaviour of the elastomers has been discussed. Polymer P₁ showed nematic phase, P₂ –P₇ showed cholesteric phase, P₃ formed Grandjean texture in the heating cycle and turned out a blue Grandjean texture in the cooling cycle, P₂ –P₃ with less than 6 mol% of chiral crosslinking agent gave rise to selective reflection. The elastomers containing less than 15 mol% of the crosslinking units displayed elasticity, reversible phase transition and high thermal stability. Experimental results demonstrated that the glass transition temperatures reduced first and then increased, and the isotropisation temperatures and the mesophase temperature ranges decreased with increasing content of crosslinking unit.     

Saddle–splay elasticity induced chiral structures in achiral liquid crystals within cylindrical geometry

ABSTRACT

On the basis of Landau–de Gennes theory and the finite-difference iterative method, spontaneous chiral structures in cylinders with degenerate planar boundary conditions are investigated. A double-twist director configuration can be achieved by the saddle–splay contribution, corresponding to the L₂₄ term in Landau–de Gennes theory. The twist angle increases as the radius R of the cylinder is reduced because the curvature of the cylindrical surface becomes larger. Moreover, we find fine structures of the domain walls and point defects between opposite-handed domains. An energy comparison shows that domain walls are the stable state for K₂₄/K> 0.6 (K₁₁ = K₃₃ = K, K₁₁, K₃₃ and K₂₄ are the splay, bend, saddle–splay elastic constants in Frank theory), whereas point defects are the stable state for K₂₄/K< 0.6.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of new chiral banana‐shaped liquid crystals with chiral 3‐(alkoxy)propoxy terminal groups

New chiral banana‐shaped liquid crystals with chiral 3‐(alkoxy)propoxy terminal groups (Pn‐O‐PIMB5*‐4O, n = 7, 8, 9 and 10) were synthesized and their mesomorphic properties and phase structures investigated by means of electro‐optic measurements, polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and second harmonic generation measurements. Most of these chiral bent‐core mesogens (n = 7–9) showed the antiferroelectric B2 phase, whereas P10‐O‐PIMB5*‐4O exhibited the B7 phase. Comparing with the previously reported homologue Pn‐O‐PIMB(n‐2)*, we conclude that the terminal chain structure, particularly the position of chiral centres, plays an important role in the emergence of particular phase structures.     

Separation of chiral phosphorus compounds on the substituted P-cyclodextrin stationary phase in normal-phase liquid chromatog-raphy

The separation of enantiomers of a series of eighteen novel nitrogen mustard linked phosphoryl diamide derivatives was investigated on the prepared phenyl carbamate derivative β-cy-clodextrin bonded phase in normal-phase HPLC. Some of the enantiomers could be separated in baseline. The chiral recognition mechanism was also suggested for the separation of chiral phosphorus organic compounds.     

New steroid α,β-unsaturated ketones as chiral components of induced cholesteric liquid crystal systems

New (E)-16-arylidene derivatives of 3β-hydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one and their acetates containing different substituents in the arylidene fragment were synthesized. The ability of the synthesized chiral compounds to induce helical supramolecular ordering (their helical twisting power) upon the introduction into the nematic liquid crystal (LC) 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) and into multicomponent mixtures E63 and LC-1289 characterized by a wide mesophase interval. The dependence of the helical twisting power of the studied chiral additives (CAd) on their molecular structure was analyzed. The highest helical twisting power (44.6–67.1 μm⁻¹) was revealed for the synthesized acetates. It was found that the composites based on LC-1289 and E63 containing the studied CAd in very low concentrations (≤10–11 mol.%) have selective light reflection in the visible spectral region. The helical twisting power of the studied α,β-unsaturated ketones is determined by the combined influence of the anisotropy of polarizability of CAd molecules and specific features of their molecular shape.     

Photo-induced control of bubble domains in chiral–nematic liquid crystal by a violet laser beam

The stable bubble domains generated by mixing 10% of chiral molecules into an azobenzene liquid crystal (LC)-doped nematic host can be optically controlled by a violet laser beam (415 nm). The photon-induced reversible trans–cis photo-isomerisation of azobenzene changes the helical twisting power (HTP) of LC mixtures in which the HTP of cis-azobenzene LC is lower than trans-azobenzene LC. Under the irradiation of an optical field (>20 mW cm^???2), the helical pitch distance, which is inverted proportional to the HTP, increases and the bubble domains disappear. Immediate obstruction of laser light irradiation initiates cholesteric nucleation, merging of domains and the subsequent generation of stably dispersed bubble domains.     

Synthesis of ionic liquids functionalized β-cyclodextrin-bonded chiral stationary phases and their applications in high-performance liquid chromatography

Four novel ILs functionalized β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) were prepared by treating 6-tosyl-β-cyclodextrin with 1,2-dimethylimidazole or 1-amino-1,2,3-triazole, and bonded to silica gel to obtain chiral stationary phases (CSPs) to be used in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The separation performances of these CSPs were examined with 16 chiral aromatic alcohol derivatives and 2 racemic drugs in acetonitrile-based polar-organic mobile phase. Excellent enantioseparations were achieved for most of the analytes. The highest value of resolution factor calculated is 6.868. Comparison of the performance of 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d suggests that the positively charged imidazole group provides electrostatic interactions probably through strong H-bonding with the analytes, whereas the cationic triazole, which forms a weaker ion pair with its counter ion, is more capable of participating in ion-pairing interactions with acidic analytes. However, for compounds 12 and 13, which have larger molecular volumes than the other analytes, the interactions between analytes and both cationic imidazole and its counter ion of the selectors play an important role in the chiral resolution. Moreover, the high resolutions were found to depend on the properties of the cations and anions on the selectors in combination with the chiral recognition sites on the rim of the CD. The ionic strength in mobile phase affects the relative interactions between analytes and the chiral selector as well as between analytes and solvents.     

Preparation and enantioseparation characteristics of three chiral stationary phases based on modified β-cyclodextrin for liquid chromatography

In order to study the effect of the nature and the length of the spacer, three mixed 10-undecenoate/phenylcarbamate derivatives of β-cyclodextrin have been prepared and linked to allylsilica gel by means of a radical reaction. The chiral recognition ability of the resulting materials, when used as liquid chromatography chiral stationary phases (CSPs), was evaluated using heptane and either 2-propanol or chloroform as organic mobile-phase modifiers. A large variety of racemic compounds have been separated successfully on these CSPs (mainly pharmaceuticals and herbicides). Optimization of these separations was discussed in terms of mobile-phase composition and structural patterns of the injected analytes. The efficiencies of the three prepared materials were compared to those of previously described perphenylated-β-cyclodextrin column and to analogous cellulose derivative-based CSPs. Schematic illustration of the b-cyclodextrin/mandelic acid inclusion complex     

Enantioseparation of dansyl amino acids by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography using cationic β-cyclodextrins as chiral additives

This work reports the application of ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) for reasonably fast enantiorecognition of some dansyl amino acids by employing three cationic β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) as chiral additives. Good resolutions were obtained on an Agilent C18 column (2.1 mm i.d.; 1.8 μm; 50 mm length) with 1% (v/v) triethylammonium acetate buffered at pH 4.7 and acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Most of the analytes could be baseline resolved within 10 min. Increased cationic CD concentration or acetonitrile proportion in the mobile phase results in a decreased retention factor but accentuated selectivity. Furthermore, molecular mechanics calculation was performed and found to be consistent with the experimental results.