| Abstract: | New ferroelectric liquid crystals containing two chiral centers, 4-(4′-n-alkyloxyphenyl)phenyl 4-{2(S)-2(S)-methylbutyloxy]propoxy}benzoate ( 4a-4f ) and 4 -(n-alkyloxy)phenyl 4-{4′-2(S)-(2(S)-methylbutyloxy)propoxy]phenyl}benzoate ( 5a-5f ) were synthesized and their physical properties studied. A phase-transition sequence of C-Sc*-N*-I was observed in most cases. Some homologues of them, 4a-4d , possess monotropic Sc * phase. Not only the Sc* phase-transition temperature of 5a-5f is lower than that of the corresponding 4a-4f , but their Sc * phase-transition temperature range is also wider than the corresponding 4a-4f . The Sc * phase temperature range can be up to 48 °C. The spontaneous polarization of 8-28 nC/cm2 and the electric rise time of 240-420 μs were measured in FLCs 4a-5f . |
