Bent-core liquid-crystalline derivative of tetrathiafulvalene: photoresponsivity and deracemization.

A bent-core mesogen containing a tetrathiafulvalene group is studied. The mesophase is an optically isotropic spongelike smectic phase without optical activity. The material responds to uv light in a peculiar way, showing photoconductivity and, in some circumstances, changing its mesomorphic properties. Under an electric field, large chiral domains are segregated from an initial racemic phase within a few minutes.