Optically Active Dopants Incorporating A 2, 4-Disubstituted Oxazolpe Ring

Abstract

Novel optically active dopants for smectic C devices incorporating a 2, 4-disubstituted oxazoline ring have been prepared from readily available starting materials. We report the observation of highly frustrated phase behaviour when these materials are added to a smectic C and nematic host, depending upon the degree of branching at the terminal chain adjacent to the chiral centre and the concentration of dopant used in the mixtures.