Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Science and Technology. Section A. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.302, 253-253, 1997
Effect of Absolute-Configuration on the Formation of Tgb(A)Asterisk Phase in Liquid Crystallines Containing 2 Stereogenic Centers
Our previous work has shown that a homologous series of chiral materials containing two sereogenic centres, (R)-2-pentyl (S)-2-(6-(4-(4-alkoxyphenyl)benzoyloxy-2-naphthyl)propionates (R,S)PmPBNP (m=7-14), exhibited TGB(A)* phase. To understand the effect of relative configuration of two stereogenic centres at chiral tail on the appearance of TGB(A)* phase, two stereoisomers of (R,S)P11PBNP, (S,S)P11PBNP and (+/-,S)P11PBNP were synthesized and their mesophases investigated. The results showed that both isomers also possessed TGB(A)* phase with the phase sequence of I-N*-TGB(A)*-S-A*-S-C*-C. The temperature range of TGB(A)* phase in (R,S)-isomer was significantly larger than that in (S,S)-isomer, indicating the stability of TGB(A)* phase was affected by the relative spatial configuration of the second chiral centre at chiral tail. In addition, the temperature range of TGB(A)* phase in (+/-,S)-isomer was larger than (S,S)-isomer, suggesting that an introducing methyl branched group at the external side of mono chiral centre could cause a weakening of smectic layer order and result in an occurrence of TGB(A)* phase. The measured Ps values in the S-c* phase from the isomers, also indicated the absolute configuration of second chiral centre plays an important role in determining the magnitude of spontaneous polarization.