Mesogenic properties of liquid crystals having a chiral semiflexible joint

Abstract

Two homologous series of mesogenic enantiomers with chiral semiflexible joint, -C*H(CH₃)CH₂COO-, are examined. High twist power and presence of blue phases with short lattice period are found for eleven examined compounds. Some effects of chirality in reentrant system are discussed. On phase diagram of enantiomers the SmAd phase area is shifted toward longer homologues as compared to racemates. In result, an island of the SmAd phase in the cholesteric sea exists on binary phase diagrams of R- and S- enantiomers. Triple divergence of the pitch in the cholesteric phase of a pure compound is observed.