The interplay between the molecular geometry and π–π interactions affects the thermal stability of a twist-bend nematic.

The synthesis and liquid-crystalline properties are reported for novel naphthyl-based diketones incorporating variant terminal chains and lateral fluoro- substitution. Newly prepared materials exhibit a broad temperature range of the nematic phase. The study demonstrates how subtle structural modifications can be exploited to alter the efficiency of molecular packing and consequently the thermal behaviour.

Enantioseparation of the newly synthesized series of novel quinoline-2(1H)-one epoxide structures rac-6a–c and rac-8a–c, named marinoepoxides, is described. Marinoepoxide rac-6a, the key intermediate in the total synthesis of natural products marinoaziridines A and B, as well as their structural analogues, was synthesized by addition of the achiral ylide generated in situ from the sulfonium salt 5 or 7, to the carbon-oxygen double bond of the corresponding quinoline-2(1H)-one-4-carbaldehyde 4a–c in good yield. Separation of enantiomers of (±)-2,3,3-trisubstituted marinoepoxides rac-6a–c and (±)-trans-2,3-disubstituted marinoepoxides rac-8a–c was studied using two immobilized polysaccharide type chiral stationary phases (CSPs); tris-(3,5-dichlorophenylcarbamoyl)cellulose stationary phase (CHIRAL ART Cellulose-SC) and tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamoyl)amylose stationary phase (CHIRAL ART Amylose-SA). Enantioseparation conditions were explored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using dimethyl carbonate/alcohol mixtures and n-hexane/ethanol (80/20, v/v) as mobile phase, and by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) using CO2/alcohol mixtures as mobile phase. In all examined racemates, enantioseparation was successfully achieved, but its efficiency largely depended on the structure of chiral selector and type/composition of the mobile phase.