Plenary Lecture. One hundred years of liquid-crystal chemistry: Thermotropic liquid crystals with conventional and unconventional molecular structure

Abstract

The roots of the chemistry of conventional rod-like liquid crystals are briefly considered. The low-molecular-weight liquid crystals are analysed in terms of rigid groups (rod-like and disc-like ring systems), flexible groups, polar groups and short, linking segments. On the basis of this analysis, the liquid-crystalline compounds actually existing can be classified into 48 types, which are illustrated with the aid of examples. The relationships of low-molecular-weight and polymeric liquid crystals are briefly indicated. Finally, from the presented material, some general conclusions are drawn.