Photo-controllable and fixative optical properties of non-polymeric liquidcrystals with azobenzene chromophore

A new series of non-polymer photochromic liquid crystalline compounds which form glassy solids maintaining the liquid crystalline molecular alignment has been synthesized; their optical properties such as cholesteric reflecti ons, controlled by the intramolecular photoreaction and temperature, can be utilized for the construction of information-storing materials.