Induced Cholesteric Mesophases: Origin and Application

Abstract

Abstract The relationship between the twisting power (β) and the molecular structure of the dopant and neraatic solvent are discussed. High values of β are observed whenever two (or more) planar or quasi-planar moieties, chirally distorted one with respect to the other, are present in the dopant. For high twisting powers, the mechanism of induction seems to be connected to the transfer of chirality from the solute to the solvent via chiral conformations of the latter. Sterochemical and analytical applications are briefly discussed.