Optically induced birefringence in a series of analogous diols

Abstract

Optically induced birefringence has been analysed in a series of analogous diols containing heteroatoms, such as O, N or S. The presence of a heteroatom in a diol molecule can change the arrangement of hydrogen bonding and, consequently, the arrangement of molecules. This hypothesis was confirmed by the results of our study. The measurements were performed at temperatures from 280 to 350 K. The values of the absolute and molar Kerr constants were calculated. The character and magnitude of the temperature changes of molar Kerr constant depend on the type of the heteroatom. According to the theory of the optical Kerr effect such a temperature behaviour indicates the presence of molecular interactions leading to formation of molecular aggregates. The sign of the calculated values of angular correlation factor indicates the predominant parallel arrangement of molecules in such molecular ensembles.