Formation of Superstructures in a Columnar Liquid Crystalline Diamide Compound

Abstract

The columnar liquid crystal (Col) phase exhibits optical anisotropy when horizontally oriented and optical isotropy when vertically oriented. To achieve optical isotropy in the columnar liquid crystal phase, it is essential to make the column vertically oriented by treating the substrate or applying an electric or magnetic field. However, an optically isotropic compound was synthesized by introducing a (S)-citronellyloxy moiety into the terminal alkyl chain of N,N'-diphenylpimeramide. The result of 1D-XRD measurement showed that 1 forms Col phase and superstructure. Atomic force microscope observation revealed that 1 forms coiled superstructures, and the optical isotropy originates in their disordered orientation.