Host-Guest Mesomorphism: Cooperative Stabilization of a Bowlic Columnar Phase

摘要

We have demonstrated how host—guest principles can be used to stabilize a B_h phase of a conformationally flexible calix[4]arene. This new and potentially general approach to mesomorphic materials offers greater versatility than single-component systems. For example, noncentrosymmetric (ferroelectric) phases may be obtained by incorporation of chiral guests with achiral hosts. Furthermore, systems which display large organizational changes with only fractional amounts of a guest may find applications in sensory or memory devices. In these cases, perturbations by specific guests may produce large changes in a material's physical properties (i.e., birefringence, optical absorbance, dielectric constant, etc.). Our future investigations will be directed at realizing these novel opportunities afforded by host—guest mesomorphism.