A New High Twisting Power Material for Use as a Single Asymmetric Dopant in Cholesteric Displays with a Temperature Independence of the Helical Twisting Power

The synthesis of a novel chiral non-racemic TADDOL derivative is presented and discussed. When the material is placed in a suitable nematic host it forms a chiral nematic phase which has an independence of the helical twisting power (HTP) with temperature. The observed HTP is approximately twice as large as HTPs found in conventional chiral additives, and the independence of the HTP is seen over a 90°C temperature range. The HTP as a function of temperature may be modified by the addition of both liquid crystalline and non liquid crystalline achiral additives. The material is unique in that it is also soluble in commercial nematic host materials and has proven to be extremely robust in both thermal and photochemical testing.