Physical properties of chiral dopants derived from optically active 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-{4-(4-methoxyphenyl)phenyl}butanoic acid for nematic liquid crystals

Abstract

The chiral dopants for nematic liquid crystals with two chiral parts were synthesized from an optically active 4,4,4-trifluoro-3-{4-(4-methoxyphenyl)phenyl}butanoic acid. The solubility in the host nematic liquid crystal (ZLI-1132, Merck) and the temperature dependence of the helical twisting power values were investigated for the chiral dopants. It was found that the solubility of the chiral dopants in ZLI-1132 strongly depended on the length of the terminal chain. It was suggested that the temperature dependence of the helical twisting power values of the chiral dopants changed the ratio of the rigid structure in the chiral dopant molecule.