Synthesis and Properties of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals Having a Trifluoromethyl Group at the Chiral Center

Abstract

Two new series of ferroelectric liquid crystals with a trifluoromethyl group at the chiral center were synthesized utilizing optically active 3-trifluoromethylalkanoic acid prepared by optical resolution procedures, their mesomorphic and physical propertics (phase behavior, spontaneous polarization and response time) were investigated. All of the new ferroelectric liquid crystals exhibited ferroelectric smectic C^* phase in a wide temperature range and were found to possess a large spontaneous polarization value.