Abstract
We have prepared novel U-shaped liquid-crystalline compounds where two polar mesogenic groups are connected via catechol. Phase transition behavior and electro-optical properties for the U-shaped system have been investigated and compared with those of their corresponding monomeric compounds. The U-shaped molecule, 1-{6-(4-trifluoromethylphenyloxy)hexyloxy}-2-{6-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)phenyloxy]hexyloxy}benzene, was found to induce larger dielectric anisotropy in the nematic phase of the mixture with a host liquid crystal than the corresponding monomeric polar compound.
