Synthesis and Properties of Cholesteric Click-Phospholes

Inspired by naturally occurring helical supramolecular architectures, a series of chiral conjugated phospholes with a cholesteryl pendant have been synthesized and characterized. The photophysically and electrochemically active conjugated phosphole species can act as dopants for the formation of chiral liquid crystals. The supramolecular structures were found to be tunable by careful choice of the conjugated headgroup as well as the rigidity of the linker of the new cholesteric phospholes.