The effect of the alkyl chain length on the mesomorphic properties of new lactic acid derivatives

New series of lactic acid derivatives with alkyl terminal chain have been synthesised and their mesomorphic properties studied. We have varied the length of chiral and non-chiral terminal alkyl chains and found that prolonging both chains has a strong effect on the SmA*–SmC* phase transition. Most of the new materials exhibit only paraelectric SmA* phase; for homologues with a longer non-chiral chain (m ≥ 10), the ferroelectric (SmC*) phase appears below the SmA* on cooling and persists down to a room temperature. The role of the chiral terminal chain in the molecule is quite opposite – only its short length supports the existence of ferroelectric phase. Additionally, a hexatic phase appeared below the SmA*–SmC* phase sequence for several homologues at low temperatures. All materials have been studied using standard experimental techniques (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), texture observations, polarisation and tilt angle measurements, etc.). Liquid crystalline properties of new materials have been compared with the previously prepared and studied lactic acid derivatives.