Simple and highly efficient chiral dopant molecules possessing both rod- and arch-like units

Abstract

A simple chiral dopant molecule (R)-1 with both rod- and arch-like units was prepared, and extremely large helical twisting powers (+123 to +228 μm⁻¹) in nematic liquid crystal phases were achieved. We have demonstrated that the introduction of an arch-like unit in addition to rod-like units is highly effective in controlling the helical molecular alignment. As an application of the dopant, induction of blue phases by addition of a small amount of it was achieved.