Chiral recognition in the crystal structure of a dichiral mesogen with a unique isotropic mesophase: 2-{4-[(R)-2-fluorohexyloxy]phenyl}-5-{4-[(S)-2-fluoro-2-methyldecanoyloxy]phenyl}pyrimidine

The crystal structure of the title compound, which has an optically isotrop ic IsoX phase with an endothermic transition on cooling from an Sm*C phase, has been determined at 230 K. The crystal has a smectic-like layer structu re composed of four crystallographically independent molecules. In the laye r, one-dimensional chains of tightly fitted pyrimidine rings, with N...H di stances shorter than the van der Waals radii, result in the large overlappi ng of core moieties and further induce close contacts and stereo-specific F -methyl interactions between the chiral groups; this is considered to be re sponsible for the uniquely organized IsoX phase.