Synthesis and Properties of Chiral Liquid-Crystal Additives of β-Cyclohexyl-α, β-difluorostyrene Structure Having Plural Ether Linkage in the Side Chain

Abstract

The synthesis and properties of substituted β-cyclohexyl-α,β-difluorostyrenes were studied for the purpose of application as chiral additive for STN liquid crystal devices. The helical twisting power and the viscosity of these compounds depended on the structure of the chiral substituent. Introduction of two ether linkage and two chiral methyl substituents in the ester side chain showed effect on lowering the viscosity but on decreasing the helical twisting power, compared with the parent plain chiral 2-alkyl esters.