A new series of biphenyl carboxylates, where an ester group adjacent to the chiral carbon is taken away from corresponding molecules in the MHPOBC series, has been synthesized and their smectic properties were investigated. The new series, MH/POBC (4-(1-alkylheptyl)phcnyl 4'-octyloxybiphenyl-4-carboxylate), did not exhibit an anticlinic phase but a tilted phase on the contrary to the MHPOBC series. X-ray analysis revealed that both series of liquid crystals formed a bent structure at the terminal branching carbon, indicating that the dipole interaction near the chiral carbon is a primary cause and the bent structure is just a necessary condition for the appearance of the anticlinic phase.
