| Abstract: | Abstract— The induced helical pitch in liquid‐crystalline systems based on 4‐pentyl‐4′‐cyanobiphenyl (5CB) and containing chiral 6‐arylidene derivatives of 3(R)‐methylcyclohexanone has been found to change its sign and to decrease in the absolute value when exposed to the UV irradiation. After the photostationary state is reached, the pitch remains invariable regardless of any consequent light radiation. This state is characterized by a large helical twist which exceeds an initial one in more than three times, thereby making it possible to obtain compositions with the selective reflection of light in the visible spectral region. This phenomenon could be utilized in colour filters for display devices. The effect observed is caused by the effective reversible photochemical E‐Z‐isomerization of the chiral dopant. This was proved by photochemical preparative synthesis of one of the respective Z‐isomers and independent studies of its behaviour in 5CB. |
