Synthesis of novel chiral dopants based on optically active p-substituted mandelic acids

Novel esters of optically active p-substituted mandelic acids (+)-1 and (+)-2 were prepared by a convergent synthetic strategy in high enantiomeric excess (99% ee). The esters (+)-1 and (+)-2 induce helical macrostructures in the mesophases of achiral liquid-crystal materials, although neither exhibits mesorphism on its own. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.