Preparation of furan-based monomers and asymmetric electrochemical polymerization in cholesteric liquid crystals: Optical activity and selective reflection

1,4-Di(2-furyl)-2,5-substituted phenylenes were synthesized by a Stille cross-coupling reaction. Subsequently, these monomers were electrochemically polymerized in a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) electrolyte solution. The polymers thus prepared showed circular dichroism, birefringence, and a fingerprint texture similar to that of the CLC electrolyte. Furthermore, one of the polymers displayed selective reflection under illumination by a white light emitting diode.