Liquid crystalline properties of cholesteric elastomers based on a mesogenic monomer containing menthyl groups

A new chiral mesogenic monomer (M_LC) based on menthyl groups and the corresponding cholesteric elastomers (LCE₁–LCE₃) were prepared. Their chemical structures and purity were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance and elemental analyses. The liquid crystalline properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X‐ray diffraction. The selective reflection of light for M_LC was characterized with ultraviolet/visible/near infrared. The effect of the content of crosslinking units on the liquid crystalline behaviour of LCE₁–LCE₃ is discussed. The experimental results show that the chiral monomer and the corresponding elastomers containing menthyl groups can show mesomorphism when a flexible linkage chain is inserted between the mesogenic core and the bulky terminal menthyl fragments to reduce the steric effect. M_LC exhibited a chiral smectic C phase, a cholesteric phase and a cubic blue phase. LCE₁–LCE₃ with a low content of crosslinking units showed a cholesteric phase because of the introduction of the nematic crosslinking unit. With increasing content of crosslinking units, the corresponding glass transition temperature increased, while the clearing temperature decreased. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that LCE₁–LCE₃ have good thermal stability. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry