Novel ferroelectric liquid crystals based on optically active propargylic alcohols

Some new calamitic chiral mesogens (2,5-diphenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazoles, 2,5-di phenylpyrimidines and a biphenylyl benzoate) incorporating the 1-alkylpropy nyl moiety have been synthesized as enantiomerically enriched materials (ee c. 87%) and/or as racemates. Their liquid crystalline properties were stud ied by polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and electro -optical investigation. Thereby it was found that most of the new compounds exhibit smectic C phases. The spontaneous polarization (P-s) of the optica lly active materials was measured to be around 10 nC cm(-2).