Graduation School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Institute of Materials Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305‐8573, Japan
Abstract:
A series of optically inactive polythiophene derivatives bearing the azobenzene moiety are synthesized in an isotropic toluene solution. The polymers are then dissolved in a cholesteric liquid crystal (Ch*LC) medium within the liquid crystal (LC) temperature range. The dissolution process in Ch*LC produces intermolecular π‐stacking with structural chirality. Although the polymers thus prepared have no chiral center or axial chirality in the primary structure, they do exhibit consistent chiroptical activity derived from three‐dimensional chiral aggregations. Furthermore, photochemical cis–trans isomerization of the substituents allows light‐driven chiroptic modulation of the polymer.
