Facile synthesis and characterization of novel thermo-chromism cholesteryl-containing hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals

Two series of novel cholesteryl-containing H-bonded liquid crystals were prepared through facile self-assembly between cholesteryl isonicotinate （proton acceptor） exhibiting a monotropic cholesteric phase, and the 4-alkoxy-benzoic acid or 4-alkoxy cinnamic acid （proton donor）. It was found that the increase of the conjugate length as well as the terminal length can contribute to enhance the interaction of molecules and thus significantly influenced the thermal behaviors of H-bonded LCs. The cholesteric reflection spectra of the induced mesogenic complexes were located in the visible region with the color tuneable thermo-sensitivity, which could be used for display application.