The helical structure induced by a binaphthyl derivative in a host nematic liquid crystal

Abstract

We prepared a series of homologues of novel binaphthyl derivatives, and investigated their induced helical senses and pitches in different host nematic liquid crystals. In the mixture with 5-hepthyl-2-(4-hexyloxyphenyl)primidine, temperature-dependent helical twist inversion was observed for the mixture doped with the odd members, whereas a right-handed helix was observed for the mixture doped with the even members. On the other hand, a left-handed helix was induced in each mixture with 4-methyloxyphenyl 4-pentylcyclohexane. We discuss the change in sign of the induced pitch in terms of chirality transfer from the binaphtyl derivative to a host nematic liquid crystal.