Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method that allows one to obtain high quality alignment of nematic or smectic liquid crystal (LC) polymer glasses in thin films. The present disclosure also includes thin films of aligned smectic or nematic LC main-chain polymer glasses, including aligned chiral smectic C* ferroelectric LC main-chain polymer glasses. The disclosure also includes electro-optical devices, including electro-optical devices comprising aligned chiral smectic C* ferroelectric LC main-chain polymer glasses.

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods for the determination of the enantiomeric excess of chiral compounds. The methods involve doping a chiral analyte into an achiral liquid crystal host to form a chiral dopant/host liquid crystal mixture. An electro-optic signature of the mixture is then determined and is used to calculate the enantiomeric excess of the chiral analyte. The disclosure also provides systems for performing the disclosed methods of determining enantiomeric excess.

Abstract: The subject application discloses chiral nonracemic compositions of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an achiral tail of two to sixteen carbons; Ar is an achiral FLC core of at least two rings; * denotes a chiral or potentially chiral carbon; Q and D are H or a methyl group, provided that q and D are not both methyl; X and Z are halides and Y is H or a halide; and R.sub.2 is one to ten carbon atoms. The --O--C*HQ--C*DX--C*HY-- segment comprises the chiral proximal segment of the chiral tail. Z can be an ortho halide alone, or ortho and meta halides on adjacent carbons on the aromatic ring of the core adjacent to the proximal segment. R.sub.2 is the distal segment of the chiral tail.

Abstract: The subject application discloses chiral nonracemic compositions of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an achiral tail of two to sixteen carbons; Ar is an achiral FLC core of at least two rings; * denotes a chiral or potentially chiral carbon; Q is H or a methyl group; X and Z are halides and Y is H or a halide; and R.sub.2 is one to ten carbon atoms. The --O--C*HQ--C*HX--C*HY-- segment comprises the chiral proximal segment of the chiral tail. Z can be an ortho halide alone, or ortho and meta halides on adjacent carbons on the aromatic ring of the core adjacent to the proximal segment. R.sub.2 is the distal segment of the chiral tail.

Abstract: The subject application discloses chiral nonracemic compositions of the general formula:R.sub.1 --(Ar)--O--C*H(CH.sub.3)--C*HX--C*HY--R.sub.2wherein: R.sub.1 is an achiral tail of two to sixteen carbons; Ar is an achiral FLC core of at least two rings; * denotes a chiral or potentially chiral carbon; X is a halide and Y is H or a halide; R.sub.2 comprises the distal segment of the chiral tail and has one to ten carbon atoms; the --O--C*H(CH.sub.3)--C*HY--C*HY--CH.sub.2 --O-- segment comprises the chiral proximal segment of the chiral tail, and the proximal segment is selected from the diastereomers and enantiomers:1S-methyl-2S-halo1S-methyl-2R-halo1R-methyl-2R,3R-dihalo1R-methyl-2R,3S-dihalo1R-methyl-2S,3S-dihalo1R-methyl-2S,3R-dihalo1R-methyl-2R-halo1R-methyl-2S-halo1S-methyl-2S,3S-dihalo1S-methyl-2S,3R-dihalo1S-methyl-2R,3R-dihalo1S-methyl-2R,3S-dihalo.

Abstract: The subject application discloses a chiral nonracemic composition of the general formula:R.sub.1 --Ar--O--CH.sub.2 --C*HX--C*HY--CH.sub.2 --O--R.sub.2wherein R.sub.1 is an achiral tail of two to sixteen carbons; Ar is an achiral FLC core of at least two rings; * denotes a chiral carbon; X and Y are halogens; and R.sub.2 is one to ten carbon atoms. The --O--CH.sub.2 --C*HX--C*HY--CH.sub.2 --O-- segment comprises the chiral proximal segment of the chiral tail; the proximal segment is selected from the enantiomers 2R,3R-dihalo and 2S,3S-dihalo. R.sub.2 is the distal segment of the chiral tail.

Abstract: The subject application discloses a chiral nonracemic composition of the general formula:R.sub.1 --Ar--O--CH.sub.2 --C*HX--C*HY--CH.sub.2 --O--R.sub.2wherein R.sub.1 is an achiral tail of two to sixteen carbons; Ar is an achiral FLC core of at least two rings; * denotes a chiral carbon; X and Y are halogens; and R.sub.2 is one to ten carbon atoms. The --O--CH.sub.2 --C*HX--C*HY--CH.sub.2 --O-- segment comprises the chiral proximal segment of the chiral tail; the proximal segment is selected from the enantiomers 2R,3R-dihalo and 2S,3S-dihalo. R.sub.2 is the distal segment of the chiral tail.