Controlling the sense of molecular chirality with light: Toward a liquid crystal optical switch

This thesis deals with inventing new chiral compounds that are capable of inducing phase changes in liquid crystals upon irradiation. The concept is based on control of chirality with light, a light-induced switching of the stereochemistry of a chiral molecule. This can be done in one of the two ways: photoresolution of a racemate by circularly polarized light based on circular dichroism of chiral compounds and chirochromism, a new class of photochromism based on the photoepimerization of two diastereomers. The stereochemistry, in the former case, is controlled by the handedness of the circularly polarized light and in the latter case, controlled by the irradiating wavelength.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemistry

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Zhang, Mingbao

Contributors dc:contributor

• Schuster, Gary B.

• Chemistry, Organic

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1995 Zhang, Mingbao

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9543786
(UMI)AAI9543786

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/22717