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Abstract
A novel chiral dimeric compound, (R)‐2,2′‐bis{6‐[4‐(5‐octylpyrimidine‐2‐yl)phenyloxy]hexyloxy}‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (1), has been prepared and its physical properties investigated. Compound 1 was found to show a monotropic smectic A phase. A twist grain boundary phase was observed in binary mixtures of compound 1 and its corresponding monomeric liquid crystal, 5‐octyl‐2‐(4‐hexyloxyphenyl)pyrimidine (8‐PYP‐6O). Pitch measurements in a mixture with a host material revealed that the binaphthyl dimer induces a stronger helical structure in the N* phase than in the SmC* phase. We also measured helical pitch values in N* and SmC* phases induced by other twin materials with a chiral centre. We discuss characteristic effects of axial chirality in liquid crystalline phases in comparison with that of centres of chilarity.
Acknowledgement
We thank Dr I. Nishiyama and Prof. P. Kaszynski for helpful discussions. This work was supported by Aomori Prefecture Collaboration of Regional Entities for the Advancement of Technological Excellence, JST.