Abstract
Several homologues of semifluorinated liquid crystals, 4'-[(n-perfluoroalkyl)alkyloxylphenyl 4-(2-fluorooctyloxy) benzoates and 4'-(2-fluorooctyloxy)phenyl 4-[(n-perfluoroalkyl)alkyl oxy]benzoates have been synthesized. One set of the compounds with their central carbonyl group being conjugated to the terminal position carrying the nonchiral perfluoroalkyloxy tail showed enhanced chiral smectic C mesophases, while the other set with their central carbonyl group being conjugated to the terminal position carrying the chiral 2-fluorooctyloxy tail presented enhanced smectic A phases. The mesomorphic properties of these novel fluorinated materials are reported and the effects of fluorination extent are discussed.
