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

Abstract

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.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grant No. 202/05/0431 from the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic.