Conformation-Changeable π-Electronic Systems with Metastable Bent-Core Conformations and Liquid-Crystalline-State Electric-Field-Responsive Properties.

This study focused on the use of nonconventional bent-core π-electronic systems, 2,2'-bipyrroles substituted with modified benzoyl units, as building units of stimuli-responsive assemblies. Electric-field-responsive mesophase behaviors were observed in homochiral synclinic ferroelectric smectic C structures comprising the syn conformations. Electric-field application induced changes in the polarized optical microscopy textures with dynamic behaviors derived from the conversion from twisted to untwisted states.