Synthesis of chiral dopants based on carbohydrates

• Saccharidic chiral dopants for nematic liquid crystals were synthesized from d-glucose.
• The helical twisting power (HTP) values were evaluated.
• The chiral dopants induced helices in the host nematic liquid crystals.
• No relationship between HTP and specific rotation on the chiral dopants was observed in this study.

Chiral dopants based on carbohydrates for nematic liquid crystals were synthesized from d-glucose, and their helical twisting power (HTP) values were evaluated. The chiral dopants induced helices in the host nematic liquid crystals. An acetyl derivative having an ether-type glycosidic linkage between carbohydrate and a mesogenic moiety showed the highest HTP value of 10.4 μm−1, while an acetyl derivative having an anomeric ester-type linkage did not show any HTP. It was surprising that this molecule had no HTP despite the presence of chirality in the molecule. A relationship between HTP and specific rotation was not observed in this study.

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