NEW CHIRAL SIDE-CHAINS FOR FERRO-ELECTRIC AND ANTIFERRO-ELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTALS DERIVED FROM THE PREEN-GLAND WAX OF THE DOMESTIC GOOSE

(2R,4R,6R,8R)-2,4,6,8-Tetramethyldecanoic acid and (2R,4R,6R,8R)-2,4,6 ,8-tetramethyldecanol, as well as the (2R,4R,6R,8R) and the (2S,4R,6R, 8R) diastereomers of 4,6,8-trimethyldecan-2-ol, have been obtained fro m the preen-gland wax of the domestic goose. Starting from these alkan ols and alkanoic acid, novel ferro- and antiferro-electric liquid crys tals bearing four methyl branchings in the chiral side chain have been synthesized and their mesomorphic and electro-optical properties have been investigated. The results obtained are compared with the propert ies of the respective chiral (S)-2-methyldecanoic acid, (S)-decan-2-ol and (S)-2-methhyldecanol derivatives. The compounds with four methyl branchings in the chiral side chain are found to exhibit lower melting points, broader SmC phase ranges, higher values of spontaneous polar ization and larger tilt angles in comparison to the respective compoun d with only one methyl branching.