Patent ID: 8436117

Claim:
A stimuli responsive compound comprising: a unit A having a first bond that functions as a rotation axis, the unit A including a bithiopene; a first unit B bonded to a first bonding section of the unit A; a second unit B bonded to a second bonding section of the unit A, the first unit B and the second unit B each including a 1,3-benzodithiolyl group; a first unit C bonded to a third bonding section of the unit A; and a second unit C bonded to a fourth bonding section of the unit A, the first unit C and the second unit C each including a liquid crystallizable functional group having liquid crystallinity and a polymerizable functional group; and wherein: the first unit B is capable of (i) forming a second bond with the second unit B when subjected to a reduction reaction and (ii) breaking the second bond with the second unit B when subjected to an oxidation reaction.