| Abstract: | The mesomorphic properties, induced spontaneous polarizations, and response times of a new type of liquid crystal and ferroelectric liquid crystal mixtures containing di- or trisubstituted 2-oxetanones as a chiral unit are described. By heating above 140°C oxetanones, bearing a three core mesogenic part, suffer cycloelimination of carbon dioxide yielding liquid-crystalline olefines with nematic, smectic C and higher ordered smectic phases, which are best suited as host materials for induced Sc* phases using the corresponding oxetanones as dopants. Compared with 1,3-dioxolan-4-ones recently synthesized and investigated, the oxetanones show minor mesomorphism. |
