New Chiral Series with Large Tilt Angle in the Ferroelectric Smectic Phase

Abstract

Abstract A new series of chiral homologous thiobenzoates with aliphatic end chains ranging from heptyloxy to dodecyloxy has been synthesized. It has been characterized by optical microscopy, DSC, pitch measurements and electro-optical study. The typical phase sequence of this series on heating is SmC*. N*. BPI, BPII and I phases. The interesting feature of these compounds is to exhibit the SmC*-N* phase transition; moreover the tilt angle in the ferroelectric smectic phase is very large (∼ 45°) and quasi-temperature independent. Key Words: ferroelectric liquid crystallarge tilt angle