Two new structurally related photoswitches are described, in which azobenzene photochromism is combined with the chirality of a 2,2?-dihydroxy-1,1?-binaphthyl unit. In system 1 the chiral binaphthyl moiety is bridged by a methylene tether, locking the biaryl chirality while in system 2 the biaryl core is unbridged and has considerable conformational flexibility. Both compound are capable of inducing cholesteric liquid crystalline phases and proved to be good photoswitches both in solution and in a liquid crystalline matrix. Compound 2 is capable of completely reversing the liquid crystalline chirality which is unique for a chiroptical molecular switch where the switching unit and the chiral moiety are separate entities.
A Chiroptical Molecular Switch with Distinct Chiral and Photochromic Entities and Its Application in Optical Switching of a Cholesteric Liquid Crystal
Tommaso Mecca;
2004
Abstract
Two new structurally related photoswitches are described, in which azobenzene photochromism is combined with the chirality of a 2,2?-dihydroxy-1,1?-binaphthyl unit. In system 1 the chiral binaphthyl moiety is bridged by a methylene tether, locking the biaryl chirality while in system 2 the biaryl core is unbridged and has considerable conformational flexibility. Both compound are capable of inducing cholesteric liquid crystalline phases and proved to be good photoswitches both in solution and in a liquid crystalline matrix. Compound 2 is capable of completely reversing the liquid crystalline chirality which is unique for a chiroptical molecular switch where the switching unit and the chiral moiety are separate entities.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
