Synthesis 2020; 52(22): 3397-3405
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1707349
special topic
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Controlling the All-trans Stereochemistry in Liquid Crystalline 4,4′-Dialkyl-[1,1′-bicyclohexyl] Compounds

Andreas Wächtler
a   Andreas Wächtler, Consultant, Am Hopfengarten 16, 64295 Darmstadt, Germany   eMail: andreas.waechtler@external.merckgroup.com   eMail: andreas.waechtler@t-online.de
,
b   Merck KGaA, Frankfurterstr. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany   eMail: matthias.bremer@merckgroup.com
,
David Maillard
b   Merck KGaA, Frankfurterstr. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany   eMail: matthias.bremer@merckgroup.com
,
Thomas Mohr
b   Merck KGaA, Frankfurterstr. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany   eMail: matthias.bremer@merckgroup.com
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Publikationsverlauf

Received: 12. Mai 2020

Accepted after revision: 24. Juni 2020

Publikationsdatum:
05. August 2020 (online)


Published as part of the Special Topic Synthesis in Industry

Dedicated to the memory of Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael Hanack (1931–2019). A.W. thanks him for 40 years of continuous encouragement.

Abstract

A good part of today’s liquid crystals (LCs) for display applications are derived from the Darzens–Nenitzescu reaction which, in a one-pot-process, yields 1,4-trans-acylphenylcyclohexanes from acid chlorides, benzene, and cyclohexene. A mechanism for this process is proposed based on quantum-chemical computations. The products of this reaction can be further elaborated to all-trans-4,4′-disubstituted-[1,1′-bicyclohexane] compounds, essential components in almost all fast switching LC-mixtures. An equilibration process involving carbo­cations is used to control the diastereomer distribution.