A Novel Approach to Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals: the First Organotransition Metal Compound Displaying This Behavior

Abstract

A novel type of mesogenic molecule and a new way of introducing chirality into liquid-crystalline compounds are both realized in roof shaped 1, obtained as a mixture of three diastereoisomers. Compound 1 forms an S mesophase between 102 and 119°C, and its electro-optic switching behavior in an electric field fits the law characteristic of ferroelectric liquid crystals.