Photochemistry of axially chiral (arylmethylene)cycloalkanes: a search for suitable photoswitchable liquid crystalline materials
摘要:
A series of chiral (arylmethylene)cycloalkanes was synthesized in racemic and optically active form to examine their suitability for incorporation in a liquid crystal-based optical switch. Irradiation of these compounds with UV light leads to their rapid photoracemization and, in some cases, their simultaneous destruction. The absorption spectra and circular dichroism spectra of these optically active compounds were determined. Chiral exciton coupling theory proves to be a good guide for predicting the magnitude of DELTAepsilon and glambda, (the Kuhn anisotropy factor). Addition of the optically active (arylmethylene)cycloalkanes to nematic liquid crystal materials induces cholesteric behavior. The helical twisting power (beta(M)) was determined for each compound, and a limit of 90 mum was established for the detection of a long-pitch cholesteric liquid crystal. Irradiation of the cholesteric liquid crystals formed by addition of the optically active (arylmethylene)cycloalkanes induces the transition to a compensated nematic phase that is readily sensed by optical microscopy.
Photochemistry of axially chiral (arylmethylene)cycloalkanes: a search for suitable photoswitchable liquid crystalline materials
摘要:
A series of chiral (arylmethylene)cycloalkanes was synthesized in racemic and optically active form to examine their suitability for incorporation in a liquid crystal-based optical switch. Irradiation of these compounds with UV light leads to their rapid photoracemization and, in some cases, their simultaneous destruction. The absorption spectra and circular dichroism spectra of these optically active compounds were determined. Chiral exciton coupling theory proves to be a good guide for predicting the magnitude of DELTAepsilon and glambda, (the Kuhn anisotropy factor). Addition of the optically active (arylmethylene)cycloalkanes to nematic liquid crystal materials induces cholesteric behavior. The helical twisting power (beta(M)) was determined for each compound, and a limit of 90 mum was established for the detection of a long-pitch cholesteric liquid crystal. Irradiation of the cholesteric liquid crystals formed by addition of the optically active (arylmethylene)cycloalkanes induces the transition to a compensated nematic phase that is readily sensed by optical microscopy.