Synthesis and properties of ferro- and antiferroelectric esters with a chiral centre based on (S)-(+)-3-octanol

A homologous series of chiral three ring esters were synthesised and their properties were studied. The materials possess an antiferroelectric phase (SmC_A*) or/and a ferroelectric phase (SmC*), which was confirmed by observations of microscopic textures using a polarising optical microscope. The phase transition temperatures and enthalpies were checked by differential scanning calorimetry. The helical pitch was measured by a spectrophotometry method. For all cases the helix is right-handed, in the antiferroelectric phase the helical pitch increases with temperature, and in the ferroelectric phase the helical pitch is short.