Synthesis of New Chiral Dopants Derived from 2-Phenylpropanoic Acid Derivatives for Nematic Liquid Crystals

Abstract
New chiral dopants for nematic liquid crystals were synthesized using optically active 2-phenylpropanoic acid derivatives. The magnitude of the helical twisting power (HTP) was largely influenced by the terminal group of the asymmetric frame and the core structures. (S)-1-[4-(trans-4-Butylcyclohexyl)phenyl]-2-phenylpropane-1-one showed a large HTP value (20.4 µm−1). The relationship between the HTP and the molecular structures of the chiral dopants is discussed.